Four new outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) linked to the H7N3 virus variant have been confirmed in Mexico. The disease was detected in two backyard flocks in the states of Vera Cruz and Guanajuato.  Infected birds were also detected in the state of Queretaro in a commercial broiler flock and a flock of breeders.

Since HPAI returned to Mexico in early March of 2019, there have been 22 HPAI outbreaks in eight central states, and the number of birds lost to the disease directly through mortality or culling already exceeds 476,000.  There appears to be a movement toward more transparency and reporting in virus surveillance that hopefully will lead to a plan to eradicate the virus in the long term.