MEXICO CITY – Mexican animal health officials have culled approximately 3.8 million chickens to contain an avian influenza H7N3 outbreak in Jalisco, Mexico and another 9.3 million birds are under observation, according to the country’s food safety agency, Senasica.

The agency detected the virus at 33 of 253 chicken farms in the western state of Jalisco during inspections. Another 82 farms were free of the virus, and diagnostic tests are being conducted at the remaining 138 facilities, Senasica said. The virus was first uncovered in Jalisco on June 20. Mexico’s government issued a national animal health emergency on July 2.

One million vaccines were imported from Pakistan. Mexico’s farming officials claim they have developed a seed-based vaccine that will delivered to four laboratories in preparations to initially make more than 80 million doses.