Bird flu confirmed in a sea lion from Rionegro, the first case in the province

Patagonia has been rocked by a new confirmed case of bird flu in the state of Río Negro. Mainly because this time it wasn’t birds, but marine mammals. This was reported by the National Produce Health and Quality Service (Senasa).

The statement was released this Wednesday, reporting a positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (IAAP) Sea Lion H5, a first for the Rionegro coast.

Confirmed by Senasa National Laboratory

A sample taken from a hair sample of a sea lion (Otaria flavescens) found in the Punta Bermeja Nature Reserve “La Lobería” tested positive.

This type of confirmation is the first in the province and the second in the country. So far, there have been three notices In sea lions, the first two are feminine and the last is masculine. The latter are found in the Rio Grande and South Atlantic Islands in the province of Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica.

According to reports, the Rio Negro case Detected 1,500 km from the first marine mammal outbreak,

This is done within the framework of nationwide monitoring actions and measures to prevent the disease, as stipulated in the declaration of the state of emergency.

This confirmation again requires the authorities to maintain precautionary measures to avoid contagion. The country experienced interruptions in cases, including between June 17 and 23, Senasa National Laboratory has yet to diagnose a case.