Paraguayan government declares animal health emergency amid avian influenza outbreak
Paraguay’s President Mario Abdo Benítez signed a decree declaring an animal health emergency following an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, activating the National Animal Health Emergency System (Sinaesa).
The emergency declaration will be effective for six months across Paraguay, dating back to its activation on May 20th.
The Master Plan for Preparedness and Response to Animal Health Emergencies, approved by the National Service for Animal Health and Quality (Senacsa), will guide the response to the crisis.
The plan outlines protocols to prevent the introduction of foreign diseases, eliminate them quickly should they appear within the country, and keep Paraguay free of foot and mouth disease and other animal-originating diseases.
Paraguay’s first avian influenza outbreak was detected on May 19th in the district of Mariscal Estigarribia, in the Boquerón department of the western region or Chaco.
Since then, four additional outbreaks have been confirmed in the same department, predominantly affecting backyard poultry.
As per Senacsa’s latest report, 84 suspected Avian Influenza (AI) cases have been dismissed in Paraguay, and 366 birds have been culled to date.
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