Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Impact Worksheet, July 5, 2002

Summary: 
On May 30, 2002 the Ministry of Agriculture in Santiago, Chile reported an outbreak of avian influenza (AI) in the province of San Antonio in the Valparaiso region of central Chile. A breeding farm had reported deaths of 110,000 hens. The remaining 400,000 hens in the breeding flock were depopulated. A second site in Rancagua also tested positive for the virus and is being quarantined. Further testing revealed 19 additional sites that showed positive serological evidence for AI, though only the original two sites had elevated mortality. Evidence of highly pathogenic (virulent) AI was confirmed by the NVSL, Ames, Iowa, USA on July 1, 2002. The origin of the virus is unknown at this time. Chile has never previously identified avian influenza in its domestic flocks, and 70,000 serological tests conducted since 2000 were negative.

The U.S. imported no live poultry or poultry products from Chile in 2000, 2001 or January and February of 2002. Production of chickens, hens and chicken meat in Chile each accounts for less than 1 percent of world output.


How extensive is the disease in Chile, and what was the Chile’s disease status prior to the outbreak?

Two sites in central Chile initially tested positive for serological evidence of AI according to early reports (see flags on map). Further testing revealed 19 additional sites that showed positive serological evidence for AI, though only the original two sites had elevated mortality. The first site experienced 110,000 deaths of hens from a flock of 509,000. The remaining birds were depopulated. A second, smaller flock had positive serological evidence of the disease and was immediately quarantined. The presence of highly pathogenic AI was confirmed by the U.S. at the National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL).

Prior to the outbreak Chile had never had positive serological evidence of AI. Since January 2000 Chile has conducted more than 70,000 serological tests, all of which have been negative. The national emergency animal health system in Chile was activated by the outbreak and sanitary and quarantine measures were immediately adopted on May 30, 2002. Japan suspended imports of Chilean poultry on May 31, 2002 due to the outbreak of AI.

Source: OIE; ProMED

What is Chile’s place in the international market for affected animals and animal products?

Chile produced small numbers of live chickens, hen eggs and chicken meat in 2000 and 2001. Live chicken stocks were 0.5 percent of world production in 2001. Hen egg and chicken meat production were less than 1 percent in 2001.

Table 1: Animal Stocks and Production, Chile, 2000 and 2001

Chile exported 1.7 million live chickens and 490 thousand turkeys in 2000 (Table 2). However, there is a discrepancy in the reported FAO data as no turkey stocks are reported for Chile, but exports of turkeys are reported for both 1999 and 2000. Chile also exported eggs, both liquid and dried, chicken meat and turkey meat in 1999 and 2000. Each of these products accounted for less than 1 percent of world export trade.

What are the U.S. imports of affected animals or animal products from Chile?

The U.S. imported no live poultry, eggs or poultry products from Chile in 2000, 2001 or January and February of 2002.

Mexico imported 67,000 live turkeys from Chile in 2000, 141,000 in 2001 and 35,000 through January and February of 2002. Mexico imported 48,000 live chickens in 2000 from Chile. In 2000, Mexico imported 37,000 kg of fresh eggs from Chile, 115,000 kg in 2001 and 112,000 kg in January and February of 2002. Mexico also imported 4.5 million kg of frozen poultry meat from Chile in 2000, 9.4 million kg in 2001 and 1.7 million kg in January and February 2002. Canada has not imported any relevant products from Chile in recent years.

Source: World Trade Atlas 


What is the level of passenger traffic arriving in the United States from Chile?

A total of 332,906 passengers arrived on direct flights to the U.S. from Chile in fiscal year 2000. This number does not include passengers who arrived in the U.S. from Chile via indirect flights.

As part of APHIS-PPQ’s agriculture quarantine inspection monitoring, 1,136 air passengers from Chile were sampled for items of agricultural interest in fiscal year 2001. Of these passengers, none were found to be carrying restricted poultry products. Twelve of the sampled passengers were carrying approximately 3 kg of unspecified sandwich meat. None of the passengers with unspecified meat items reported plans to visit or work on a ranch or farm while in the U.S.

Source: APHIS-PPQ Agricultural Quarantine Inspection database


CEI’s plans for follow up:

If you need more information, or if you want to comment on this worksheet, you may reply to this message, or contact Robert Harris (970-494-7327) or Reginald Johnson (970-494-7326).