Ecuador suffered an outbreak of avian influenza a few years ago, which, although it did not reach the mortality levels recorded in other countries in the region, did have a significant impact on poultry production, public perception, and how we apply biosecurity.
Dr. Marco Cisneros Tamayo, PhD and professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science at the Central University of Ecuador, shared his perspective on what happened and the lessons this event left for science and society in an interview conducted as part of the iGEM Ecuador project.
Media and commercial impact
Dr. Cisneros highlights that the most significant impact of the outbreak was in terms of the media. News reports associating avian influenza with zoonotic risks caused alarm among citizens, leading customers to stop buying meat and eggs. This resulted in immediate economic losses for poultry producers, even though the virus did not spread massively or with high pathogenicity in the country.
A biosecurity "drill"
Rather than being merely a negative episode, the emergency was used as a catalyst to strengthen biosecurity practices in the poultry industry. Producers carried out more rigorous actions such as health monitoring of birds, supervision of the entry of people and materials, and the use of disinfectants. The use of vaccines with strict diagnostic controls was allowed in provinces such as Cotopaxi, Tungurahua, and Chimborazo, although these measures were implemented on a localized basis.
Challenges for small producers
Uncertainty was the main obstacle for small farmers. The lack of clear information and the fear of losing their birds without official compensation caused concern. Paradoxically, over time the price of eggs rose and did not fall again, which ended up benefiting producers economically in the medium term.
Vaccines and limitations
The professional explained that inactivated vaccines have their limitations, given that they are dependent on a match between the vaccine strain and the circulating viral strain, which makes it even more necessary to work towards strengthening epidemiological surveillance and rapid diagnosis systems in order to prevent rather than react.
Education and international cooperation
According to Cisneros, the key lies in the socialization of knowledge. Only when producers have assimilated the reality of the problem are they able to adopt other methods and technologies. He also suggested establishing links with international organizations, such as OMSA (formerly OIE) and specialized research centers capable of combining scientific knowledge with global reference frameworks.
Advice for young researchers
Finally, Dr. Cisneros urged young researchers to take action or carry out work with a pragmatic approach that allows them to be connected to the environment in which they are working. At the same time, he stressed the importance of building on existing knowledge and avoiding duplicating efforts already made. He also emphasized the need to strike the right balance between the use of technological tools and connection to practical problems in the field.
The avian influenza outbreak in Ecuador not only highlighted the weaknesses of the diagnostic and surveillance system, but also opened up an opportunity to strengthen biosecurity, education, and international cooperation. For projects such as iGEM, these lessons are an essential starting point in the search for innovative biotechnological solutions to emerging health threats.
Avian influenza in Ecuador: Analyzing the first outbreak of H5N1 in South America
Ecuador faced its first outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b in late 2022, marking a turning point for veterinary health, genomic surveillance, and public awareness in the country.
Dr. Alfredo Bruno Caicedo, PhD in Veterinary Sciences and researcher at the Phytosanitary and Animal Health Regulation and Control Agency (Agrocalidad), together with Dr. Miguel Ángel García, PhD in Molecular Biology and co-author of the genomic study "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," shared their perspective on the lessons this event left for science and public policy in Ecuador.
Response and diagnostic capacity
According to Dr. Bruno, the detection and confirmation of the virus using RT-PCR and genomic sequencing was possible thanks to coordination between Agrocalidad and national laboratories. "The outbreak was detected in Cotopaxi and confirmed by RT-PCR and H5 subtyping in a matter of days. This reflects a solid diagnostic capacity, although containment in the field still poses a challenge due to resource and logistical constraints," he explained.
Compared to neighboring countries, the diagnostic response was timely; however, the magnitude of the losses highlighted the need to improve biosecurity and the speed of control actions on farms.
Socioeconomic and productive impact
Dr. García pointed out that the outbreak highlighted the fragility of the poultry sector in developing economies.
"If the virus were to become endemic, the consequences would not only affect production, but also food security and employment. We could see a sustained increase in the prices of chicken meat and eggs and the disappearance of small producers," he warned.
Both researchers agree that strengthening continuous genetic surveillance programs is essential to prevent future economic disruptions.
Zoonotic mutations and public health risk
The team identified genetic mutations associated with antigenic drift, immune escape, and changes in host specificity.
From a public health perspective, Dr. Bruno expressed particular concern about mutations that could favor the virus's adaptation to mammalian receptors.
"That's where the zoonotic risk really lies," he said. "Our priority must be to monitor molecular markers that indicate a possible change in host specificity. Clade 2.3.4.4b found in Ecuador was closely related to a red fox and a hawk, demonstrating its ease of zoonosis."
Biodiversity at risk
Ecuador's unique biological diversity, especially in the Amazon and the Galapagos Islands, is a cause for additional concern.
Dr. García highlighted the risk of the virus being transported by migratory seabirds, particularly pelicans and gulls along the Pacific coast.
"A single introduction into the Galapagos could have devastating ecological consequences. Although authorities have strengthened port controls, surveillance targeting endemic and migratory species is still needed," he explained.
Risk of recombination and farms as reservoirs
"Clade 2.3.4.4b has an extraordinary capacity for genetic recombination," explained Dr. Bruno. "Densely populated farms act as ideal environments for co-infection and reassortment, which could give rise to new subtypes."
Both researchers reemphasized the importance of maintaining continuous genomic surveillance, as well as implementing strict biosecurity measures on farms to detect any emerging variants before they spread.
Public health and the "One Health" approach
In their opinion, the most urgent reform for the country is the creation of an integrated One Health surveillance system that connects animal, human, and environmental health.
"We must decentralize diagnostic capacity, promote rapid reporting, and ensure fluid communication between Agrocalidad, the Ministry of Health, and local communities," said Dr. García.
According to both experts, this investment would significantly reduce the risk of zoonotic transmission.
Migration connectivity and regional circulation
Phylogenetic analysis showed a close relationship between the isolates from Ecuador and those detected in a red fox in Canada and a hawk in Mexico.
"This pattern confirms the role of migratory birds in introducing the virus to South America," explained Dr. Bruno.
However, the clustering of Ecuadorian isolates with those from pelicans in Peru suggests that the virus is already circulating locally in the region, beyond simple seasonal reintroductions.
Sentinel species for surveillance
When asked which wild species should be prioritized for surveillance, Dr. García mentioned three: the Peruvian pelican (Pelecanus thagus), the Dominican gull (Larus dominicanus), and the neotropical cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum).
"These species have proven to be effective sentinels for early detection of viral activity along the Ecuadorian coast," he said.
Vaccination and logistical challenges
Although the World Health Organization (WHO) has proposed a candidate vaccine strain based on clade 2.3.4.4b, both experts recognize significant challenges to its implementation.
These include distribution logistics, the need for a precise match between the vaccine strain and the circulating strain, and acceptance by small producers.
"Vaccination without adequate genomic surveillance may actually favor the emergence of immune escape variants, so vaccines should be updated as new variants emerge," warned Dr. Bruno.
Scientific contribution and legacy
Finally, the researchers highlighted the main novelty of their work: it was the first study to genomically document the presence of H5N1 in South America, with complete sequences deposited in GISAID and relevant mutations annotated for zoonotic surveillance.
"This contribution allows the international community to understand the evolutionary trajectory of the virus on our continent," concluded Dr. García.
The avian influenza outbreak in Ecuador not only highlighted weaknesses in diagnostic and surveillance systems, but also opened up an opportunity to strengthen biosecurity, scientific education, and international cooperation. For projects such as iGEM Ecuador, these lessons are an essential component in the search for innovative biotechnological solutions to emerging health threats.
