El Second case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5 in poultry The outbreak in Buenos Aires province has reignited health and business concerns in Argentina. The new cluster was located in a poultry farm from the Lobos area, and adds to the outbreak previously detected in Ranchos, in the same production district.
This reappearance of the virus in commercial farms puts pressure on one of the country's most important export complexesespecially to the fresh poultry meat segment, and brings back the debate on biosecurity, epidemiological controls and maintenance of international markets at the center of the agenda.
How the second case of H5 avian influenza was detected
The new focus was identified by the National Agri-Food Health and Quality Service (SENASA) at a heavy breeding farm located in the Buenos Aires district of Lobos. After receiving the initial notification of suspicion, technical teams from the agency went to the establishment to provide on-site assistance, take samples and send them to the official laboratory.
The tests carried out in the SENASA National Laboratory, in MartinezThey confirmed the presence of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5 virus in the poultry at the facility. With this confirmation, the Lobos case was officially registered as the second outbreak in commercial poultry from the province of Buenos Aires, after the first reported incident in Ranchos.
In the initial focus of Ranchos, the alert was triggered as a result of clinical signs consistent with the disease and an unusually high mortality rate in breeding stock. Samples collected by official veterinarians also tested positive for AIAP H5, marking the starting point of this new stage of health emergency in the Argentine poultry sector.
Both outbreaks share a common pattern: they are commercial breeding farmsThis increases the sensitivity of the production system, since these farms form part of the genetic and replacement base of the rest of the poultry chain.
Contingency plan: interdiction, culling and Control Zones
Following the confirmation of cases in Ranchos and Lobos, SENASA launched its contingency plan for avian influenzaDesigned to minimize the spread of the virus and protect the health status of unaffected areas, the first measure has been the immediate quarantine of establishments, meaning the suspension of all movement of birds, products, and by-products to and from affected farms.
In parallel, the sanitary depopulation of the birds involved and the controlled management of their final disposal. These tasks include slaughter, burial or safe disposal, and subsequently, an intensive phase of cleaning and disinfection of facilities, equipment, and surfaces to minimize the viral load on the premises.
The protocol also establishes the creation of a Sanitary Control Zone (ZCS) around each outbreak. Within this zone, two rings are defined: a 3-kilometer perimeter, where containment, biosecurity, and movement restrictions are reinforced, and a 7-kilometer surveillance ring, oriented towards monitoring and thorough epidemiological tracing in farms and birds of different types.
In addition to monitoring production birds, the following are carried out surveillance tasks for wild and backyard birds within the ZCS and in adjacent areas, with the aim of detecting early any possible spread of the virus between populations and breaking the chain of transmission before it reaches other commercial farms. In this regard, cases have been reported in wild birds which reinforce the need for coordinated surveillance.
Once the sanitary slaughter is completed and the deep cleaning and disinfection work is finished, the establishments remain under supervision until the safety period set by international standards is met, with movement restrictions and intensive controls remaining in place.
Impact on health status and exports
The confirmation of these H5 HPAI outbreaks in commercial poultry This has had an immediate effect on Argentina's international health standing. With the first outbreak in production farms, the country lost its status as a territory free of highly pathogenic avian influenza. World Organization for Animal Health (WHO)This forced the temporary suspension of exports to destinations that require full free status.
The merchandise most affected by this situation is the fresh poultryArgentina faces restrictions in approximately 40 international markets, including China, one of its main buyers. Despite this, authorities emphasize that the current trade damage is minimal. less severe than that recorded in the major outbreaksand big spotlight which required extensive measures in other contexts.
In recent years, diplomatic and technical work with trading partners has made it possible to agree zoning, regionalization and compartmentalization schemesThese mechanisms allow for the recognition of disease-free areas or compartments within the same country, so that shipments from areas without outbreaks can continue, even in the presence of localized outbreaks in other regions.
Thanks to these instruments, Argentina has achieved maintain differentiated access for poultry meat and other derived products in more than 35 destinations, which represents a reduction of nearly 47% in the number of markets affected by restrictions, compared to the widespread closures resulting from the episodes of 2023 and 2025.
According to official data, by 2025 the Argentine poultry meat exports reached approximately 169.000 tonswith an approximate value of $218 million. The sector fears that a worsening of the health situation could again impact these volumes, although for now it is emphasized that the impact is quantitatively less than in previous crises.
Health and trade scenario: deadlines and conditions for regaining status
From a regulatory standpoint, the key to regaining the status of a country free of highly pathogenic avian influenza lies in the absence of new outbreaks on commercial farms for a specified period after the implementation of control measures. OMSA regulations stipulate that, once the sanitary slaughter, cleaning, and disinfection of the affected production unit have been completed, at least 28 days must elapse without any new outbreaks before a country can again be considered for disease-free status.
If that requirement is met, Argentina has the possibility of to declare oneself free before the OMSATo formally report the situation and request the full restoration of the previous sanitary status. From there, the path is opened to renegotiate the reopening of those markets that tied their imports of poultry products to the status of a country free of highly pathogenic avian influenza.
Meanwhile, The domestic market for chicken meat and eggs remains operational As normal. Health authorities remind the public that avian influenza is not transmitted to humans through the consumption of poultry or products such as eggs, provided that standard food cooking and handling guidelines are followed.
The most sensitive economic area continues to be exports, where the direct consequences of the restrictions are combined with the reputational effect on Argentine productsThe precedent of the severe outbreak in 2023, which forced the near-total closure of markets and took years to normalize, remains very much in the sector's memory.
That episode resulted in the massive closure of destinations, with particular relevance to the Chinese market, which only recently reopened Argentine poultry imports after a long period of technical negotiations and verification of the control and biosecurity measures implemented in the country.
Prevention and biosecurity measures on farms and in backyards
To reduce the risk of the virus spreading beyond the already detected hotspots, SENASA has stressed the need for the poultry farms They must strengthen their handling, hygiene, and biosecurity protocols to the fullest extent. These obligations are outlined in Resolution No. 1699/2019, which regulates the minimum measures and best practices on farms throughout the country.
The recommendations include issues such as strictly control the entry of people and vehiclesUse dedicated work clothing and footwear, provide disinfectant arches or footbaths, and keep a detailed record of entries and exits to facilitate traceability in case of potential outbreaks.
Brianda backyard birds and small family farmsThe organization advises keeping animals in protected and preferably enclosed spaces to avoid direct contact with wild birds that may act as carriers of the virus. It also emphasizes the importance of Clean and disinfect corrals, waterers and feeders regularlyas well as protecting water and food sources from access by wildlife.
Another key is to minimize the movement of people not belonging to the establishments and restrict the movement of animals between farms, except in strictly necessary cases and under adequate transport conditions and health documentationBiosecurity, the technicians emphasize, is not limited to large companies, but also involves medium and small producers and backyard poultry owners.
Strengthening the measures also involves Increase passive and active surveillanceThe first is based on the notification of suspected cases by those who handle birds, while the second involves sampling and control operations on farms and environments considered at risk, especially within and around the Sanitary Control Zones defined by the outbreaks.
Notification of suspected cases and contact channels with SENASA
Early detection of new outbreaks depends largely on the collaboration of all stakeholders in the poultry industry. Therefore, SENASA emphasizes that any unusual mortality or nervous, digestive, or respiratory signs In the case of domestic or wild birds, they should be reported immediately to the official channels enabled.
Notifications can be made in the local office of the agency, in person or by phoneand also through remote tools. These include the institutional WhatsApp number, the specific email address for health reports, and the online form "Notify Senasa" available on the official website, designed to expedite the sending of information from anywhere in the country.
This communication network aims to ensure that Do not let suspicious events go unreportedThis includes reports of small groups of backyard birds or the discovery of sick or dead wild birds. Each report is assessed to determine the risk, and if necessary, technical teams are deployed to collect samples, conduct inspections, and, where appropriate, implement immediate control measures.
In addition to these direct channels, the organization maintains an active specific microsite on avian influenzawhere information is updated on the epidemiological situation, the affected areas, prevention measures and informational materials for producers and the general public.
In this context, citizen participation is considered another piece of the national surveillance strategy, complementing the work of official and private veterinary services, producers' associations and diagnostic laboratories.
The sum of these elements—rapid detection of hotspots like those in Lobos and Ranchos, strict application of Contingency plan with sanitary slaughter and Control ZonesStrengthening biosecurity on farms and in backyards, and active cooperation in reporting suspected cases—defines Argentina's room for maneuver to contain this second case of avian influenza in poultry, limit its impact on international markets and accelerate the path towards regaining its status as a country free of HPAI.
