On October 1, the Universidad Católica de Chile’s School of Veterinary Medicine hosted the “Update Workshop on Avian Influenza: 2024-2025 Prospects,” organized by the Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG). The event gathered leading specialists to discuss progress in eradicating the virus and future challenges for Chile.
The day opened with a presentation from Carlos Orellana, SAG’s Head of the Livestock Division, who highlighted the successful steps that led to the reopening of the Chinese market after it had been closed for over a year and a half following the outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Orellana commended the collaborative efforts that enabled the containment of the virus and the recovery of access to one of Chile’s primary markets for meat exports.
A focal point of the presentations was the work done by ChileCarne in northern Chile’s Arica region. Carolina Larraín, Head of Poultry Health, played a crucial role in coordinating the control and prevention measures in this high-risk area. “The biocontainment efforts in Arica delayed the spread of the virus to commercial poultry. We worked on biosecurity and facility repairs within a 5 km radius of the beach where the first infected pelicans were found, covering both commercial farms and small backyard flocks. Additionally, the Wetlands Biosecurity Program—active since 2015 and benefiting small poultry farms within a 2 km radius of the Lluta Valley—proved effective, as none of the birds were infected with HPAI despite their proximity to wetlands heavily populated by wild birds,” Larraín noted.
Christian Mathieu, a veterinarian with SAG’s Livestock Virology Section, discussed training initiatives and advancements in diagnostic techniques that were instrumental in sample collection and early detection efforts during the crisis.
One of the critical presentations was given by Hugo Araya, SAG’s Head of Animal Health, who described the significant economic impact of the health emergency. Approximately $9 million USD was spent on outbreak control measures, including animal culling and mitigating damage to wildlife and the environment. The closure of major export markets, particularly China, compounded the difficulties faced by Chile’s meat industry.
From a public health angle, Paula Rodríguez of the Ministry of Health reported on the limited cases of human transmission of the virus, suggesting that infection may occur through ocular receptors. This insight introduces new considerations regarding how the virus might spread to people.
Rodolfo Reyes from the National Fisheries Service (Sernapesca) spoke about the toll on marine wildlife, noting a 15% decrease in the sea lion population and a 31% decline in Humboldt penguins. Reyes emphasized the collaboration between Sernapesca and SAG in efforts to mitigate the virus’s impact on coastal ecosystems.
The event concluded with a presentation from Pedro Jiménez Bluhm, a professor at Universidad Católica, who shared the latest findings on the H5N1 virus’s circulation among ruminants—a development that may introduce new health c
