An Immediate Notification dated 8 April from the veterinary authority to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) confirms two outbreaks of bird flu, both in backyard flocks in the south of the country and starting on 9 March.

One outbreak was in Tehuacán in the state of Puebla and the other was in Oaxaca state, at Santiago Yaitepec.

In total, 524 birds were affected; 139 showed symptoms, 94 died and the remaining 430 were destroyed.

The presence of the highly pathogenic H7N3 subtype of the virus has been confirmed.

The last outbreak of bird flu in the country was in September 2014.

According to the agriculture ministry in Mexico, SAGARPA, based on the epidemiological surveillance by the National Health Service, Food Safety and Quality (SENASICA), commercial poultry farms are not at risk of infection from these outbreaks.

SENASICA technicians visited all farms within 10 kilometres of the outbreaks and found no clinical signs or evidence of disease.

To prevent the spread of the virus, the same agency set up checkpoints and inspections to prevent unauthorised movements of live birds, their products and by-products.

SAGARPA adds that producers and authorities are working together on epidemiological surveillance to detect disease and take action promptly to avoid disruption to the country's commercial poultry sector.