Summary
Report type: immediate notification
Started: 8 Oct 2022
Confirmed: 16 Oct 2022
Resolved: 16 Oct 2022
Reported: 21 Oct 2022
Reason for notification: new strain in the country
Causal agent: highly pathogenic avian influenza virus
Serotype: H5N1
Nature of diagnosis: clinical, laboratory
This event pertains to a defined zone within the country.

Outbreak location: Metepec, Mexico
Started: 8 Oct 2022
Ended: 16 Oct 2022
Epidemiological unit: body of water
Animals affected:
Species / Susceptible / Cases / Deaths / Killed and disposed of /
Slaughtered or killed for commercial use / Vaccinated
Gyrfalcon (wild) / - / 1 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0

Affected population: This was a gyrfalcon (_Falco rusticolus_) used
for falconry, which fed on prey collected in the Lerma River basin,
located in the state of Mexico. The animal became ill, showing mainly
respiratory and nervous signs and blindness, and was taken to a
veterinary clinic. The animal died 72 hours after showing clinical
signs. The event was immediately reported by the veterinarian to the
health authority. Specialized personnel performed the necropsy and
observed congestion and generalized hemorrhages.

Epidemiology
Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection: contact with wild
species

Epidemiological comments: This report represents the 1st isolation of
an HPAI virus subtype H5N1 in Mexico, which occurred in a non-poultry
bird and in one of the migratory wild bird corridors that cross the
country, with no cases detected so far in backyard and commercial
birds. As anti-epidemic measures, risk areas have been defined, and a
situation diagnosis is being carried out through epidemiological
tracing in the focal and peri-focal zones, with the objective of
identifying new cases. Notification of suspected cases is encouraged
through local authorities and personalized visits to backyard poultry
farmers, and poultry producers are invited to reinforce their
biosecurity measures and report any abnormal behavior in their
flocks.

Control measures at event level
Domestic control measures applied: surveillance within the restricted
zone, surveillance outside the restricted zone

Diagnostic test results
Laboratory name and type / Species / Outbreaks / Test / First result
date / Last result date / Result
[National Center for Animal Health Verification Services] (CENAPA) /
gyrfalcon / 1 / gene sequencing / 13 Oct 2022 / 16 Oct 2022 /
positive
[United States-Mexico Commission for the prevention of foot-and-mouth
disease and other exotic animal diseases] (CPA) / gyrfalcon / 1 /
real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) /
10 Oct 2022 / 10 Oct 2022 / positive
[United States-Mexico Commission for the prevention of foot-and-mouth
disease and other exotic animal diseases] (CPA) / gyrfalcon / 1 /
virus isolation / 10 Oct 2022 / 13 Oct 2022 / positive