The last positive cases confirmed by Senasa were detected in Santa Cruz and Chubut. In the province, some 210 animals have died in the past 17 days.
Bird flu continues to spread, affecting sea lions in our country. The latest cases detected by Senasa occurred in Santa Cruz and Chubut. In the latter province, the situation is somewhat critical, as some 210 bodies have been found in the past 17 days. In the previous report, the death rate was high in Camarones and Cabolaso in the region. Due to the difficulty of accessing certain areas, the impact on the colonies scattered across the vast unseen coastline cannot be determined with precision.
“Over the past 17 days, about 210 dead sea lion samples have been counted at various locations along the coast of Chubut province,” said Fernando Bersano, director of Chubut province’s flora and fauna. There were other deaths. “They were related to natural causes, not to this epidemic, especially in the smallest sample because there were more puppies in the herd, which is the most vulnerable area.” The director mentioned The complication, however, is that control and prevention is impossible in animals because the disease must be allowed to evolve while the species adapts by producing its own antibodies.
The latest findings come within the framework of surveillance actions and hygiene measures implemented across the country to prevent the disease. Since the day Senasa was notified of the suspected case, the agency has been working with municipal, provincial and national agencies to implement intervention protocols, coordinate strategies and health actions to control the outbreak, and provide information to the various entities. Currently, recent detections in marine mammals do not affect the animal’s self-declared health status to OIE.
Senasa advises against handling dead animals or animals showing suspicious symptoms. Likewise, producers, institutions, and the public are reminded that notification must be made if high mortality, neurological, digestive, and/or respiratory symptoms of susceptible species are found in wild birds or in commercial or backyard poultry. On the other hand, they say not to travel to poultry farms or wildlife habitats after exposure to dead animals or symptoms.