Quito, November 16 (EFE) – The incidence of bird flu in wildlife in the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador) is declining, with the Galapagos National Park on Thursday following the first detection of the virus. issued a statement saying. The H5N1 virus is present in two groups of native and endemic birds in the Ecuadorian archipelago.
“The number of positive results from the samples collected has decreased significantly, to the point where there were only negative cases in two weeks,” Galapagos National Park Director Danny Rueda said in a statement.
Rueda added: “We are confident that the wave of avian influenza on the islands has passed and although it killed small numbers of birds of some species, the populations are healthy and able to recover.”
So far, flu cases have been concentrated in San Cristobal’s Genoviza and Punta Pete islands, both of which are located in the easternmost part of the island. In both habitats, red-footed boobies are the most affected species, according to the same National Parks report.
Since the first positive case was detected on September 19, Ecuador’s environmental authorities have conducted observations and collected samples of live and dead birds at 29 locations in the archipelago, and conducted approximately 20 surveillance trips, including at least one visit to each location twice.
“Despite this encouraging news, the Galapagos National Park Service will continue to monitor these sites, collect samples and apply biosecurity protocols that have been implemented to reduce the risk of new infections,” the agency noted. .”
For these tasks, the National Park is supported by the Galapagos Biosecurity and Quarantine Regulation and Control Agency, the Charles Darwin Foundation (FCD) and the University of San Francisco and Quito (USFQ).
If negative results continue to occur over the next few weeks, the competent authorities will analyze the relevance of opening tourist sites that remain closed.
Considered a natural laboratory for British scientist Charles Darwin to develop his theories of evolution and natural selection of species in the 19th century, the Galapagos Islands are composed of 21 islands approximately 1,000 kilometers off the coast of mainland Ecuador, in 1978 , they were declared a natural heritage of humanity by UNESCO.
Wildlife along the coasts of Chile and Peru has been severely affected in recent months, with thousands of specimens dying from bird flu, and the extreme measures were taken after the presence of the virus was confirmed in this sensitive natural enclave.
While bird flu cases have declined in the Galapagos Islands, a new focus has emerged at the El Morro Manglares Wildlife Refuge on the coast of mainland Ecuador as actions to stem the disease’s impact are taking place. Increase.
The Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition said on Wednesday that “an active monitoring program has been launched, which includes monitoring and collection of samples for respective analysis and final disposal of dead wildlife”.
Bird flu wreaked havoc on mainland Ecuador’s poultry farms in 2022, with multiple outbreaks killing or culling at least 1.2 million birds and infecting a girl, one of the few human cases recorded in the region.Effie
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