environment and climate change secretariat black river Bird flu outbreak kills more than 1,200 sea lions along coast, warns Starting in mid-August.
Of the reported numbers, some 801 are concentrated in the Punta Bermeja Nature Reserve, about 45 kilometers from Viedma, which is why the area is closed to the public for 21 days.
There is a group of 1- and 2-haired sea lions in Punta Bermeja, thought to be one of the largest in south america More than 4,000 copies are permanently saved.
“The overall figures for the province, especially in Punta Bermeja, A downward trend in recent weeks mortality of specimens,” said the crisis committee headed by the secretariat.
Minister of Environment, Sustainability and Climate Change of Rio Negro, Dina Miganiassures that “with the exception of natural reserves such as La Loberia and Pozo Salado, the mortality rate of sea lions is decreasing.” In this sense, he noted that they have the advice of experts in mammalian epidemiology , they “recommend moving bodies as little as possible to avoid the spread of the virus.”
Referring to the closure to the public, he said, “As it is located in a nature reserve and has recorded the highest number of deaths, it was decided to close 21 days after the death of the last sea lion.” Senasa reports the virus is still present in the environment The period of time after an animal dies.
On the other hand, this situation also has a strong impact on the local tourism industry:”Many people and many companies rely on tourism for a living and are waiting for the peak tourist season, but people’s health is more important“.
As for the rest of the beaches, he insisted that “they remain open because it is impossible to close so many kilometers of beach. On the other hand, since it is not a sea lion habitat, there are scattered specimens, so it is easier to collect the carcasses found.”
Finally, he recommended “not to approach wolves and not to take pets to the beach, as it is not yet known whether there is a mammalian-to-mammalian mutation in the virus, a fact that could be dangerous for pets or humans.”