Diving and kayaking in Pyramides suspended

In the last hours of yesterday, two sea lions in Puerto Pyramide were confirmed to be infected with bird flu, the provincial government issued a statement restricting diving with sea lions and the areas of Peninsula Valdez and Punta Loma for 15 days (as of yesterday). Kayaking activities.

The Director of Fauna and Flora of Chubut province, Fernando Bersano, confirmed that dead sea lions on the coast of Puerto Piramides were infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5. Senasa alerts the public to prevent the spread of the virus.

Bersano commented that 4 sea lion carcasses have been found, 2 of which were sampled and all tested positive for avian influenza. These cases were added to the outbreaks detected on the Rionegro and Santa Cruz coasts.

Also today, the National Agricultural Sanitation and Quality Service (Senasa) confirmed two new cases of bird flu in marine mammals in Punta Loyola, Santa Cruz.

Senasa National Laboratory has diagnosed new disease-positive samples taken from dead sea lions (Otaria flavescens) found in Punta Loyola. Positive cases were also detected in Puerto Kercan, Necochea province.

To date, four notifications for sea lions have been processed: the first two were negative; the third was found in the Antarctic province of Tierra del Fuego and the Rio Grande in the South Atlantic Islands, the first positive for the species cases; the fourth was confirmed a few days ago in the Rio Negro Punta Bermeja Nature Reserve.

These findings were made within the framework of surveillance operations and health measures implemented nationwide to prevent the disease following the declaration of the state of emergency by HPAI-Senasa Resolution No. 147/2023.

From the date Senasa is notified of suspected cases, national health agencies meet with municipal, provincial and national agencies to communicate intervention programs for these cases, coordinate strategies and health actions to control the outbreak, and provide information to entities.

Furthermore, in the sampling programme, burial sites of suspected dead animals were identified together with local authorities to avoid any type of contamination or contagion from other animals or people.

Senasa advises against handling dead animals or animals showing suspicious symptoms. Likewise, producers, institutions, and the public are reminded that notification is mandatory if high mortality, neurological, digestive, and/or respiratory symptoms in susceptible species are found in wild birds or in commercial or backyard poultry.

They recommend avoiding people and vehicles from beaches or flu-affected areas and activities.

When sea lion specimens are present, do not approach and avoid direct contact and approaching by pets.

According to Senasa Resolution No. 153/2021, avian influenza is a notifiable disease in our country and anyone who notices dead, neurological, digestive and/or respiratory symptoms in wild or domestic poultry can notify the agency through the following channels:

Go in person to the nearest Senasa office, call 11 5700 5704; via the mobile device application “Senasa Notifications” available in the Play Store; write to email notificaciones@senasa.gob.ar or via their website or on the Avian Flu microsite “Notifications to Senasa” section of the .