The meeting was held in the office of the Coordinating Secretary of the Cabinet, Gustavo Fita, and was attended by the Secretary of Operational Control, Ricardo Gaitán, the Undersecretary of the Environment, Daniel González, and the Undersecretary of Health, Gabriela Simunovic, representing the Municipality; Marina Andreu (Director, Senasa Regional Center for Southern Patagonia); German Rezanowicz, Veterinarian, SENASA South Patagonia Region Animal Health Coordinator and Marina Castro Pérez (SENASA Veterinarian); Marina Riera (Chubut Provincial Fauna); Josefina Ferreyra (MCR Veterinarian), Mariano Coscarella (Commodore Knowledge) ; Lorena Abril (Southern Planning Area), Cristian Ansaldo (Head of Regional Sector) and Nicolás Piazza from the Naval Department of Argentina.
Although no cases of bird flu have been registered or confirmed in the Komodoro region, the virus is spreading in the region and across the country, and authorities have decided to step up preventive measures.
In this sense, Germán Rezanovich, veterinarian and animal health coordinator for SENASA’s Southern Patagonia region, explains: “We’re talking about wild animals, and what people have to do is not approach sea lions, which in this case On the beach, they could get sick or die. Stay as far away as possible, and if possible, avoid where these animals are.”
Another recommendation is that “pets should not walk with owners through sea lion haunts as if they become loose it could lead to conflict between species and is already a problem in itself.”
Regarding the bird flu cases, he cautioned that they had not yet been registered in Komodoro, but “we had positive cases in Caleta Olivia and what we had from Radha Tilly, the samples were a bit degraded , a positive cannot be given, but it does not mean that there is no, we have also had positive results in the Camarone”. Within this framework, he affirms that “we have this disease, around the city, so we have to try to avoid contact in case there is eventually a doubt.” Respiratory diseases, such as influenza in humans, the symptoms are similar: nasal discharge, oral discharge animals, diarrhea may eventually occur, and a large number of animals have neurological manifestations, that is, they are seen to make strange, erratic movements. When in doubt, if you see a marine animal, dead or alive, on a beach, do not approach it.”
If you have any questions, please dial 103
Daniel González, the city’s undersecretary for the environment, insists that “in case of doubt or the presence of live or dead marine animals, they can call 103 of the Civil Protection 24 hours a day. Starting with communication, The process starts, depending on the type of claim, if the animal is alive or dead, we send experts to confirm it, and depending on the situation, we see who has to be involved at that site.”
“We are asking everyone, the only number they have to call is 103 and no other number. From now on it is a matter of prevention, they do not approach the animals, if the animals approach the house do not disturb them, just communicate with us. People can go and enjoy the beach, but if they see animals, don’t go near them and take pets to the beach because pets can take this home,” he said.