Informing the state government that doing so in Patagonia will not change the health situation in Rio Grande do Sul
According to the latest information from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply platform dedicated to reporting cases of avian influenza in the country, the latest case is Patagonia’s eighth aquatic mammal, a sea lion. This time the new discovery is in Rio Grande, not Rio Grande do Sul.
The Brazilian city of Coiso has currently reported 115 cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza, three of which occurred in subsistence birds.
Total non-Brazilian avian influenza cases
Espírito Santo: 30 (29 wild birds, 01 survival birds)
Rio de Janeiro: 19 (wild birds)
Rio Grande do Sul: 02 (wild birds and marine animals)
Sao Paulo: 34 (wild birds)
Bay: 04 (Wild Bird)
Paraná: 12 (wild birds)
Santa Catarina: 13 (12 wild birds and 01 surviving birds)
Mato Grosso do Sul: Survival Bird Ranking 01
Confirming the official statement from the Rio Grande do Sul state government:
“The Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Sustainable Production and Irrigation (Seapi) confirmed on the fourth day (3/10) that a focus of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) was detected in aquatic mammals on the beach of Cassino. Rio Grande on the south coast. The virus was discovered in leões-marinhos.
The notification was issued on September 30 by the Rio Grande Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center (Cram) and was also attended by the Official Veterinary Service (SVO). Samples were collected and sent to the Federal Laboratory for Agricultural Defense in Campinas (LFDA-SP), a reference unit of the World Organization for Animal Health (OMSA).
This is the second outbreak in Rio Grande do Sul. Therefore, even with the new notification, the health situation in the state and nationally has not changed and it is not suitable for consumption. The first outbreak, in May, occurred in a wild bird (fish swan) in the Taim reserve, which has been closed after epidemiological evidence and negative results. The state does not register commercial poultry production.
Rosane Collares, director of the Department of Animal Health Surveillance and Defense (DDA), said the teams are working from the moment you decide to meet them. “In Uruguay and Argentina, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, there is a big wave of influenza and as it is in the currency we feel it reflected. We will work with the following institutions to follow the protocols required to avoid the spread of the virus. Sane said active surveillance and health education activities will be carried out in coastal areas.
At this moment, animals gathered there, including two sea leaves and two sea wolves. There is evidence that consumption of infectious agents, such as birds contaminated with avian influenza, is the primary route of infection in aquatic and semi-aquatic mammals. The possibility of transmission between animals cannot be ruled out.
The Rio Grande do Sul SVO also warned people to take safety measures. It is vital that people do not approach dead or dying animals. All suspicions – including respiratory, neurological or high and sudden mortality – must be notified immediately to Seapi via the nearest Agricultural Defense Inspectorate or via WhatsApp (51) 98445-2033.
“We are monitoring the situation with health and environmental organizations and environmental patrols, but everyone’s cooperation is important,” Rossan stressed.