First case of bird flu detected in Elephant Seal in Patagonia, Argentina

Argentinian health authorities discovered the first case of avian influenza in an elephant seal in Patagonia’s Chubut province (southern), amid outbreaks of the disease in sea lions across the country’s Atlantic coast.

The National Agricultural Food Sanitation and Quality Service (Senasa) confirmed in a statement that several cases of marine mammals infected with the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5 virus have been detected in sea lions and elephant seals in these areas. Found dead. Commodore Rivadavia, Radatili and Punta Tumba.

The new cases add to those already detected in recent weeks in Argentina’s Atlantic coast provinces of Buenos Aires, Rio Negro, Chubut and Santa Cruz.

Andrea Marcos, general coordinator of epidemiology at the Senesa National Animal Health Service, confirmed to EFE that the elephant seal’s carcass was found next to the remains of two sea lions, which also tested positive for avian influenza.

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First case of bird flu detected in Elephant Seal in Patagonia, Argentina

The virus has not yet been detected in birds or cattle sampled in the area, so authorities still don’t know how it spreads.

In a general advisory, Argentinian authorities advised people not to come into contact with the excrement of animals suspected of being infected with avian influenza, as transmission occurs through direct and indirect contact, through vehicles, footwear or clothing.

However, Marcos acknowledged that the country’s health authorities still don’t know how the virus will develop in the coming months and what risks the outbreak will pose to humans since it first emerged in Argentina last February.

According to information from EFE

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