Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, May 21-Comprehensive Xinhua News Agency reporters abroad reported that Paraguay’s National Bureau of Animal Health and Quality announced on the 20th that it had confirmed the discovery of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in poultry in the country. On the same day, the National Bureau of Health, Agriculture and Food Quality of Argentina also announced that the bird flu epidemic is spreading in the country, and 17 of the 24 provinces in the country have already had bird flu epidemics.
Paraguay found the case in Boqueró n province, and the poultry was probably infected by contact with migratory birds. After the case was discovered, Paraguay’s National Bureau of Animal Health and Quality immediately launched emergency health measures, dispatched a veterinary team to the epidemic area to carry out culling work, set up an epidemiological investigation team, set up a quarantine station in the epidemic area, and reported it to the World Organization for Animal Health.
The Paraguayan government appeals to the public to be vigilant, to strengthen health awareness, to avoid contact with infected poultry, and to report any suspicious cases in time to ensure public health and safety.
The communique issued by the Argentine National Bureau of Health, Agriculture and Food Quality said that 98 cases of avian influenza have been reported in Argentina since the beginning of this year, and the latest case was diagnosed in a farm in entre rios province in the central part of the country on the 19th. Relevant departments are stepping up screening in key areas such as farms and bird sanctuaries in bird flu epidemic areas, and strengthening quarantine and protection in areas where the epidemic situation has not been reported, so as to control the spread of the epidemic situation.
Argentina reported the first bird flu epidemic this year on February 15th, and more cases have been found in poultry and wild birds since then. Up to now, there has been no case report of human infection with avian influenza in Argentina. (Participating in reporters: Wang Tiancong, Wang Zhongyi)