The Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA) confirmed, as a result of epidemiological surveillance actions carried out throughout the national territory, the presence of a new outbreak of High Pathogenic Avian Influenza on a property in the El Tamarindo Nature Reserve, specifically in the village of Las Canoas, rural area of the municipality of Cartagena, Bolívar.

The positive result was confirmed by the Ica National Veterinary Diagnosis Laboratory, after the technical team of the region met a suspected disease compatible with Avian Influenza reported by the owner of the farm on November 1.

The total population of the farm was 72 birds (including chickens, ducks and turkeys), of which 23 died and the remaining 49, as a sanitary measure of control and eradication of the disease and according to the technical procedures established, were slaughtered by the ICA technical team, which also initiated epidemiological surveillance, cleaning and disinfection of the area,  containment and eradication of the disease.

According to the authorities, this new focus has nothing to do with the outbreak detected in Acandí, Chocó, and the hypothesis of its origin is that of a close interaction with wild birds, since the area is part of the Central American migratory route.

As established in the country's protocols, the Contingency Plan for avian influenza care is currently active and a care team composed of epidemiologists, veterinarians and livestock technicians was formed, which focused on the ICA Sectional Management in Cartagena to coordinate and implement the control and eradication of the sanitary situation.

On the property identified as positive, quarantine measures have been established to mitigate the risk of spreading the disease to other areas of the Department of Bolivar or the country. The ICA states that it will articulate the necessary actions with local health authorities to generate recommendations aimed at the prevention and care of the communities of this territory.

The health authority reiterated that the presence of the disease in the country does not endanger the national production or consumption of eggs and chicken meat and ensures that interinstitutional work ensures that all efforts are being made, complying with the protocols established level to contain the disease and prevent its spread.

Source: Agrolink