Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the avian influenza strain H5N1 that emerged in Ecuador in November 2022 in free-living birds conforms to clade 2.3.4.4b.  In addition to high mortality in marine birds including pelicans, two commercial farms were infected in January and February reapectively, resulting in depopulation of 1.1 million egg production hens.

*Bruno, A. et al Phylogenetic analysis of H5N1 avian influenza outbreak in poultry in Ecuador is associated with the highly pathogenic clade 2.3.4.4b International J. of Infectious Diseases. doi.org/10.1016.J.ijid 2023.04.403