MEXICO CITY (October 24, 2012)--An outbreak of the H7N3 bird flu virus in western Mexico has been "totally controlled" after 68 days without any reports of new cases, officials said Wednesday.

President Felipe Calderon said Wednesday that more than 22 million hens had been slaughtered throughout the country since efforts to contain the outbreak were announced in July.

The outbreak caused price increases in chicken and egg products in Mexico. Calderon said the outbreak caused significant damage because of the outbreak.

The United States was among the countries that began exporting eggs to Mexico to help lower egg prices.