Phylogenetic analysis reveals that the H5N1 avian influenza A outbreak in poultry in Ecuador in November 2022 is associated with the highly pathogenic clade 2.3.4.4b
Alfredo Bruno, Alonzo Alfaro‐Núñez, Doménica de Mora, Rubén Armas-González, Maritza Olmedo, Jimmy Garcés, María Sol Vaca, Euclides De la Torre, David Jarrin, Lidia Burbano, Johanna Salas, Cristian Imbacuan, José Chanatasig, Margoth Barrionuevo, María Cristina Galante, María Verónica Murguía Salas, Natalia Goñi, Juan Cristina, Christian Steffe Domingues, Lucas Oliveira Montesino, Fernanda Gomes Cardoso, Dilmara Reischak, Miguel Ángel García-Bereguiain
Abstract
The ongoing H5N1 outbreak in the Americas caused by clade 2.3.4.4 is causing unprecedented impact in poultry and wild birds. In November 2022, a highly pathogenic avian influenza A outbreak was declared in poultry in Ecuador, affecting more than 1.1 million heads of poultry in two farms by February 2023. Phylogenetic analysis shows that the virus clade is 2.3.4.4b, and to the best of our knowledge, this is the first scientific publication reporting this clade in South America.