Uruguay declares nationwide bird flu emergency

Uruguay has declared a nationwide animal-health emergency after highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza was detected in backyard birds in the department of Colonia.

The Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries ordered a halt to the movement of backyard birds and birds outside the national poultry monitoring system. Backyard poultry and birds in free-range production chains must remain in enclosed, roofed facilities under the emergency measures.

Authorities also suspended fairs, livestock auctions, bird sales, exhibitions and other public events involving poultry. As a result, birds will be excluded from Expo Prado, Uruguay’s main agricultural and livestock fair, scheduled for Sept. 11 to 20.

This is Uruguay’s second bird flu emergency declaration of the year. The previous measure was issued on Feb. 24 after veterinary teams detected the disease in wild birds in Maldonado, Rocha and Canelones departments. The first case in that episode involved a coscoroba swan found at Laguna Garzón in eastern Uruguay on Feb. 20.

The ministry urged people not to touch or handle sick or dead birds and to notify veterinary services immediately after finding one.