Avian influenza outbreak in Galapagos Islands

The official told local radio station FM Mundo that the scene was complicated not only for the birds, but also for sea lions and humans.

He explained that some tourist locations were closed as a precautionary measure, such as the three areas of Punta Piet on San Cristóbal Island, Española Island, Wolf Island and Genovissa.

However, he reported that more than 150 visitor spaces remain open, with biosecurity measures in place such as disinfecting footwear, clothing and boats.

Rueda recalled that on Saturday, September 16, some tour guides warned of the presence of dead animals, and the next day, on the advice of the Charles Darwin Foundation, an emergency committee was activated together with the Biosecurity Agency.

Considering that Ecuador declared a health emergency last November due to the presence of the H5N1 avian influenza virus in the country, Galapagos experts have developed response plans for possible cases.

“We suspect that we are facing avian influenza, which is happening across the Pacific. In fact, there are several health emergencies on other islands,” he noted.

As an infectious disease hypothesis, he mentioned that the most affected birds are red-footed boobies, which eat very specific fish, and that due to the El Niño climate phenomenon, they may search for food far away from the islands.

“We have passive surveillance at all points,” the manager said.

Due to their rich biodiversity, the Galapagos Islands, located about a thousand kilometers west of the coast of mainland Ecuador, are considered a natural laboratory where British scientist Charles Darwin was able to develop his theories of species evolution and natural selection.

In 1978, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared the islands a natural heritage of humanity.

ro/avr