An update on avian influenza in Mexico

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 30, 2026

Rapid Diagnosis of Avian Influenza Virus in Wild Birds: Use of a Portable rRT-PCR and Freeze-dried Reagents in the Field
08:46

Rapid Diagnosis of Avian Influenza Virus in Wild Birds: Use of a Portable rRT-PCR and Freeze-dried Reagents in the Field

Published on: August 2, 2011

C Villarreal-Chávez1, E Rivera-Cruz

  • 1Vocal Ejecutivo, Cuajimalpa, México 05110, DF, Mexico.

Avian Diseases
|October 25, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Mexico successfully eradicated high-pathogenicity avian influenza (AI) in poultry using vaccination and strict biosecurity measures. A permanent monitoring program ensures ongoing control, with H5N2 identified as the sole subtype.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Virology
  • Epidemiology
  • Poultry Health Management

Background:

  • High-pathogenicity avian influenza (H5N2) posed a significant threat to Mexico's poultry industry.
  • Previous outbreaks necessitated robust control strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To detail the successful eradication of avian influenza in Mexican poultry.
  • To outline the key strategies employed for disease control and prevention.

Main Methods:

  • Implementation of an inactivated emulsified vaccine against avian influenza.
  • Enforcement of strict biosecurity protocols and movement controls for poultry and products.
  • Establishment of a permanent, reliable national monitoring program for avian influenza.
  • Controlled depopulation of poultry flocks confirmed positive for low-pathogenicity avian influenza.

Main Results:

  • Complete eradication of high-pathogenicity avian influenza virus (H5N2) in poultry.
  • Sustained control and prevention of avian influenza through integrated management strategies.
  • Identification of H5N2 as the only circulating avian influenza subtype in Mexico.

Conclusions:

  • A combination of vaccination, biosecurity, movement control, and monitoring is effective for eradicating high-pathogenicity avian influenza.
  • Controlled depopulation and biosecurity are key for managing low-pathogenicity avian influenza.
  • Mexico's comprehensive approach ensures continued avian influenza surveillance and control.

More Related Videos

Avian Influenza Surveillance with FTA Cards: Field Methods, Biosafety, and Transportation Issues Solved12:09

Avian Influenza Surveillance with FTA Cards: Field Methods, Biosafety, and Transportation Issues Solved

Published on: August 2, 2011

Nasal Wipes for Influenza A Virus Detection and Isolation from Swine05:59

Nasal Wipes for Influenza A Virus Detection and Isolation from Swine

Published on: December 4, 2015

Related Concept Videos

Influenza01:27

Influenza

Influenza is an acute, highly communicable viral disease that affects the respiratory tract and is responsible for seasonal epidemics worldwide. Influenza A is the most prevalent type associated with widespread outbreaks and is subtyped based on two surface glycoproteins: hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N), as in H1N1. These glycoproteins are essential for viral infectivity, transmission, and immune recognition. Transmission occurs primarily through respiratory droplets and contaminated...
Migration00:53

Migration

Migration is long-range, seasonal movement from one region or habitat to another. This common strategy, carried out by many different organisms around the world, is an adaptive response that typically corresponds to changes in an organism’s environment, like resource availability or climate. Migrations can involve huge groups of thousands of animals as well as single individuals traveling alone and can range from thousands of kilometers to just a few hundred meters.
Arboviral Encephalitis01:25

Arboviral Encephalitis

Arboviral encephalitis refers to brain inflammation caused by arthropod-borne viruses, particularly those transmitted through mosquito vectors. Among these, West Nile virus (WNV), a member of the Flaviviridae family, is a significant public health concern. WNV is an enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus. Human infection typically begins when an infected mosquito introduces the virus into the dermis during feeding. The primary transmission cycle involves birds as amplifying hosts...
Coronavirus01:29

Coronavirus

Coronaviruses, including the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), are enveloped viruses characterized by their single-stranded, positive-sense RNA genome and helical nucleocapsid structure. The hallmark of these viruses is their club-shaped spike (S) glycoproteins that protrude from the viral envelope, facilitating attachment to host cells. Typically, coronaviruses infect the upper respiratory tract, often causing mild or asymptomatic disease. However, certain strains like...
Viral Mutations00:36

Viral Mutations

A mutation is a change in the sequence of bases of DNA or RNA in a genome. Some mutations occur during replication of the genome due to errors made by the polymerase enzymes that replicate DNA or RNA. Unlike DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase is prone to errors because it is not capable of “proofreading” its work. Viruses with RNA-based genomes, like HIV, therefore accrue mutations faster than viruses with DNA-based genomes. Because mutation and recombination provide the raw material for adaptive...
Chickenpox01:20

Chickenpox

Chickenpox is an acute, highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), a double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the Herpesviridae family. Its transmission occurs primarily through the inhalation of respiratory droplets or direct contact with vesicular fluid from skin lesions. The incubation period typically ranges from 10 to 21 days, during which the virus replicates and disseminates through sequential phases within the host. Although generally self-limiting in children,...