The second case of avian flu is detected in Buenos Aires and exports of poultry products remain suspended

As in the first case confirmed in Ranchos on Monday, the national organization activated the actions provided for in its contingency plan, which include the prohibition of the establishment and the delimitation of a Sanitary Control Zone (ZCS) in which sanitary containment measures, reinforcement of biosecurity, movement restriction, monitoring and epidemiological tracing will be applied.

With the confirmation of the first outbreak in commercial birds, Argentina had already lost its sanitary status as a country free of HPAI and had suspended exports of poultry products towards the destinations with which it had health agreements based on that status.

However, due to the negotiations carried out in the last two years after the strong outbreak that occurred in 2023, Trade in poultry products will be maintained with countries and blocs that accept shipments of products from disease-free areas.

The main merchandise affected is fresh poultry meat, whose commercialization is restricted in approximately 40 destinations. As he was able to find out Clarín Rural, China, the main importer of Argentine chicken, is closed.

However, Senasa clarified that the commercial impact is considerably lower compared to the 2023 and 2025 outbreaks.

On this occasion, Argentina managed to maintain a differentiated access scheme for this product and other derivatives in more than 35 countrieswhich represents a reduction of close to 47% in the number of destinations reached by restrictions compared to previous health events.

To contextualize, according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, lPoultry meat exports in 2025 were 169 thousand tons worth US$ 218 million.

From Senasa they clarified that if no new outbreaks are recorded in commercial establishments and once at least 28 days have passed since the end of the stamping out, cleaning and disinfection in the productive unit, AArgentina may declare itself free before the World Organization for Animal Health (WHOSA) and restore their health condition.

On the other hand, Production destined for the domestic market will continue to develop normallysince avian influenza is not transmitted by the consumption of poultry meat or eggs.

Avian influenza is an infectious disease caused by a virus of the Orthomyxoviridae family that mainly affects wild and domestic birds, with high mortality. Although it does not usually infect humans, certain strains, such as H5N1, can be spread through direct contact with infected animals and cause severe respiratory illness. HPAI can spread quicklygenerating a strong impact on the poultry industry and the closure of external markets due to health restrictions.

The last recorded outbreak of avian influenza on a commercial farm occurred on August 20 of last year andn a laying hen establishment located in the Buenos Aires city of Los Toldos. On that occasion, Senasa activated its containment and eradication protocol both in the affected farm and in the surrounding areas and temporarily closed exports.

The reopening took place in October, once the slaughter, burial, cleaning and disinfection tasks in the affected area had been completed and after more than 28 days without new health reports, which allowed commercial normality to be recovered.

The strongest disease outbreak was in 2023 when all the markets were closed. China only enabled the reopening of imports from Argentina in March 2025, two years after the first case.