The USAPEEC calculates that the total loss due to trade embargos on U.S. broiler and turkey exports through June 2022 amounted to $1.16 Billion. This is lower than the $4.2 Billion accruing in 2015. The difference is attributed to agreements limiting bans to counties or states and the lifting of restrictions 28 days after completion of decontamination.
The outbreak of HPAI in a 34,000 broiler breeder flock in Fresno County, California confirmed on August 22nd resulted in Mexico banning imports from the entire state. The ban was soon modified to include only the affected county consistent with bilateral agreements between Mexico and the U.S. The initial report of the outbreak resulted in closure of cross-border transfer from California points of entry to Mexico for a limited period.
Subsequent to the earlier case in Fresno County three additional outbreaks have been diagnosed. To date these comprise a turkey flock of 166,000 growing birds in Tuolumne County on August 26th, a flock of 35,000 broiler breeders in Fresno County on August 26th and growing turkeys in Sacramento County on August 30th. These incident cases will potentially create additional disruption in trade.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture has recorded isolation of H5N1 virus from wild birds in 14 counties and from backyard flocks in three counties. It is hoped that the authorities will make a clear distinction between bone fide backyard flocks kept by homeowners for household eggs or as hobby birds and the alternative non-commercial “backyard” flocks comprising game fowl (fighting cocks). The epidemiologic implications relating to true backyard chickens and other species and fighting cocks became evident in the outbreaks of Newcastle disease in 2018-2019.