Peru reported its first severe outbreak of the highly pathogenic type A H5 virus earlier in November, shortly after Mexico said it would start vaccinating birds in high-risk areas.
Doris Rodriguez, an official from Peru’s wildlife and forestry service, told radio station RPP some 13 800 birds have died from bird flu, including around 10 000 pelicans – mainly in the north and center of the country. Some 180 000 birds in the area are set to be slaughtered to prevent the spread of the virus, Ecuador’s agriculture ministry said in a statement.“During the next 90 days, it will not be possible to move birds, products and by-products of avian origin such as eggs, hens, chickens, among others, from the farms affected by the outbreak,” the ministry said.