Experience in control of avian influenza in the Americas.

Abstract

The outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Canada in 1966, the USA in 1984 and Mexico in 1994 led to a clear increase in biosecurity measures and improved intensive poultry production systems. In the past 12 years (1994-2006), there have been four outbreaks of HPAI on the American continent: in Mexico in 1994 (H5N2), in Chile in 2002 (H7N3), in the USA in 2004 (H5N2) and in Canada in 2004 (H7N3). In all cases, the control and eradication measures were based on prompt detection, depopulation of infected farms and epidemiological contacts, increased biosecurity measures and control of the movement of live poultry and their products, by-products and infected material. In Mexico, in addition to the aforementioned measures, the use of massive vaccination allowed eradication of HPAI in a relatively short time in two affected areas of high-density commercial poultry.