Argentine Patagonia beach closed after bird flu-infected sea lion dies
The mayor of Viedma, Pedro Pesati, also sought help from the provincial government of Rio Negro
Local authorities in Argentina’s Rio Negro province reportedly closed access to beaches on the Atlantic coast on Thursday after dead sea lions were spotted.
The municipality of Viedma, the province’s capital, ordered the closure of the beach between Balneario el Cóndor and the Punta Bermeja nature reserve for 14 days after a dozen sea lions were found dead, as a precautionary measure for those with symptoms of bird flu.
The mayor of Viedma, Pedro Pesati, also asked the provincial government for assistance “to reduce the movement of people and livestock in Viedma along the Atlantic coast”.
“And set up security fencing to restrict access and put up warning signs at the entrances to designated beaches,” he added.
Earlier this week, the Argentine National Service of Agro-Food Hygiene and Quality (Senasa) confirmed in Cl Romeco and San Blas, in the province of Buenos Aires, and in San Antonio Este, in the province of Río Negro. Three other cases of avian influenza in sea lions were reported. Other positive cases were found in Rio Grande, Tierra del Fuego; in Antarctica; in Necochea-Quequén, Buenos Aires; in Punta Loyola, Santa Cruz; North Aires; and the port of Piramides, Chubut province.
“There were animals that were sick, dead, or dying. We’ve counted 30 to 50 animals dead and many more sick,” said Juan Isidro, a park ranger at the Punta Bermeja Nature Reserve ( Juan Isidro, who oversees the habitat of about 7,000 animals, said.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is a disease that has a major impact on poultry production, affecting both domestic birds such as chickens, ducks, turkeys and geese, as well as wild birds. It can also spread to other animals, even humans. Since the end of 2021, a wave of bird flu has swept the world.
Senasa is adhering to its recommendation not to handle dead animals or animals with suspicious symptoms and has reviewed the reporting of high mortality in susceptible species if stress, digestive and/or respiratory symptoms are observed in wild birds or in commercial or backyard domestic birds the importance of rate. People are also advised not to travel to poultry farms or wildlife areas after exposure to dead or symptomatic animals.
The southern breakwater in the city of Mar del Plata (Buenos Aires province) was closed last Saturday after Senasa confirmed two cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5 infection in sea lions.