Last week, Venezuela's Ministry of Popular Power for Productive Agriculture and Land identified an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian Influenza (HPAI) in pelicans in Puerto Piritu, in the west area of the state of Anzoátegui. Inspection and epidemiological surveillance activities led to its identification, according to a recently-published Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) report on avian influenza.

Molecular studies detected influenza A/H5 virus. This is the first time HPAI has been detected in Venezuela. The molecular characterization of neuraminidase is in progress.

Of the total number of avian influenza outbreaks reported in the Region of the Americas in 2022, as of EW 45, only one case of highly pathogenic avian influenza has been identified corresponding to the detection of influenza A (H5N1) in a person who participated in the slaughter of birds in a commercial poultry facility in the United States.