Avisurz cautions against vaccination as nearly 700,000 chickens culled due to bird flu outbreak

On March 10, a new case of bird flu at a commercial egg farm in Chincha. As a result of the detection, at least 20,000 breeding hens were eliminated. With this group, Peru already has 700,000 breeding hens slaughtered only in formal egg farms, in the January-March period of this year.

The data provided by Álex Jerí, manager of Avisurz and spokesperson for the now Egg Producers Association of Peru that brings together -according to he said- 80% of the national production of those who produce this protein, puts the rest of the businessmen on alert whose farms they are still exposed.

Although the (Senasa) authorized, on March 15, the start of vaccination against avian influenza, less than 10 egg farms obtained -to date- the authorization to inoculate their animals, says Jerí, who warned that the process to obtain the vaccination permits is bureaucratic.

READ ALSO: Other health risks outside of bird flu in the livestock sector

And it is that the Health Authority detailed that For a farm to apply the vaccine, they must be authorized by Senasa, have an authorized veterinarian; In addition to presenting negative results to bird flu through PCR tests, valid for no more than seven days. The problem, however, is that the authorizations would be taking more than three days.

“EThe problem is that the laboratories where we must take the PCR tests are in Lima. Then they verify it there, and if the test comes out negative, we deliver it to the Senasa office that is in the place where the farm operates, which then sends it to Lima; and vaccination on the farm was recently authorized. We have seen that in some cases the authorization has taken three days, in countries like Mexico, it is fast and online. Without authorization they do not sell you the vaccines ”explains the businessman.

The Association also has asked Senasa to eliminate the PCR test from the requirements to expedite vaccination. Jerí gave an example of the case of Mexico, which exempted businessmen from this requirement after sacrificing more than 4 million chickens due to the spread of the virus. Management reviewed the Mexican government portal but could only verify that, in a document from November 2022, the PCR test was requested.

READ ALSO: Chile detects first outbreak of bird flu in poultry; shipments close

Until March 15, Senasa reported 14 registration requests for the H5N1 avian influenza vaccine, but only 04 laboratory registrations were approved: – CEVA SALUD ANIMAL (vectorized type) – INTERVET (inactivated type) – AVIMEX (inactivated type) – THE COLOR (inactivated type).

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Faced with the slaughter of millions of poultry, which has impacted the price of chicken and eggs, the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (Midagri) reported on February 28, 2023 that poultry companies would import 17 million fertile eggs; However, according to Jerí, the entry of this amount of products would only be completed in 13 weeks due to the low international supply.

The Executive has allocated S/ 21.4 million to continue with the inspection, diagnosis and processes to guarantee agricultural and livestock health and safety.

What kind of bird flu has it been detected in Peru?

In Peru, Avian Influenza, type A subtype H5 of high pathogenicity, was detected, the same that has been detected in Ecuador, Colombia and the United States.

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What kind of animals does it affect and how does it spread?

The National Agrarian Health Service (Senasa) reported that the virus affects all birds. Transmission can occur directly between infected birds or through nasal secretions, feces, feed, water, equipment, and contaminated clothing.

READ ALSO: Avian flu: 18 questions and answers about the disease that is still present in Peru

How deadly can this virus be?

“For birds it is lethal because it can generate a mortality of up to 100%,” said the Health Authority.

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