A dozen sea lions have been found dead or showing symptoms of bird flu between the El Cóndor Spa and Punta Bermeja de Viedma Nature Reserves in Rio Negro, according to the Rio Negro environment and climate change minister. and the local municipality, which ordered restricted use of beaches in the area.
The Rio Negro Undersecretary for Environment and Climate Change, Fabián Llanos, told Télam today that the restriction on the use of Punta Bermeja beach was based on the precautionary principle because “we don’t know this Exactly how the virus is transmitted is “constantly evolving”, noting that under the Senasa protocol the recommendation for animal carcasses is burial.
“We’re not sure how it evolves or how it’s contagious, it’s going to be circling the coast and we hope it passes as quickly as possible so people don’t experience that in the summer,” the official said.
According to official reports, the infection affecting the Otaria flavescens species (one-haired sea lion) is considered highly pathogenic.
A few days ago, dozens of sea lions were found dead in the port of Necochea, in the city of Buenos Aires. Professionals from the National Food Sanitation and Quality Service (Senasa) are today trying to determine whether it was due to possible bird flu Caused by infection.
Also in Tierra del Fuego, the death of 21 sea lions was reported and at least seven were confirmed to be infected with bird flu, prompting the provincial government to put up posters to prevent people from entering the coastal sanctuary in the city of Rio Grande.
Dead birds were also found in Punta Bermeja and were tested by Senasa, which is expected to be diagnosed based on the analysis carried out in Buenos Aires, according to the latest report from Environmental Guardians of the Rio Negro.
“It can be inferred that the death of coastal wolves may have been caused by a virus, but this needs to be confirmed,” Lanos said. “The specific characteristics of the dead wolves (such as age) are not yet known.” “.
He also said, “It is not clear whether the virus is mutating, which is why it is important that the Marbrand Institute intervene in sequencing the virus to determine whether it is mutating.”
“Avian influenza is a potentially zoonotic disease, meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans,” authorities in Rio Negro said, warning that “in the feces and secretions of birds and marine mammals Disease-causing viruses can be found in animals and pose a real risk to those who may come into contact with these animals or their fluids.”
When NSA personnel were sampling dead sea lions in the Viedma region, an interagency working committee was formed to “monitor and effectively address” the problem.
The committee is made up of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the Environmental Sanitation and Epidemiological Coordination Unit of the Ministry of Health, the municipalities of Viedma, Senasa, the Naval Department of Argentina and the Rio Negro Police Department.
As mentioned earlier, the goal is to monitor the situation on a long-term basis, to provide the population with updated advice and to disseminate relevant information on a continuous basis.
Within this framework, the public is advised to maintain “restricted beach access”.
It clarified: “It is strongly requested not to enter the affected beach areas, avoiding contact with these areas will help reduce the risk of contagion.”
In addition, it is recalled that it is forbidden to bring pets to the beach because “the contact of domestic animals with the virus is very dangerous and facilitates the spread of the virus.”
Authorities also recommend keeping a safe distance and avoiding direct contact “to minimize the chance of virus transmission if sea lions are seen or dead birds are found.”
Advise “no contact with surfaces, whether wild or free-ranging, that may be contaminated with saliva, mucous membranes or bird droppings”.
“If wild and domestic birds are found to be sick or dead, Senasa authorities must be contacted immediately,” they said.
The official method of communication is the Senasa Notifications app for Android devices, email to notificaciones@senasa.gob.ar, call 11 5700 5704, fill out the online form or go to the nearest office.
In the end, it was recalled that “at this time, everyone’s cooperation and responsibility are essential to control the spread and safeguard the health of the people.”
It also asked the community to “keep informed of the situation through official channels and to follow the instructions of the intervening agency authorities”.