Scientists are investigating whether the El Niño climate phenomenon has an impact on the spread of the H5N1 virus in the archipelago.
A team of researchers conducts a search Determine whether there is an El Niño climate phenomenon Help authorities take steps to stop the spread of bird flu in the Galapagos Islands.
Strict biosafety regulations, continuous monitoring and close some islands Tourism allows authorities to prevent the spread of the disease in the archipelago, which is rich in biodiversity, much of it endemic.
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Arturo Izurieta, director of the Galapagos National Park, briefed EFE on disease control in the archipelago, saying: “We have taken the measures within our capabilities and used appropriate The technology, I think has had an effect.”
infected birds
With El Niño currently active, a team of scientists from the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) is investigating whether this climate phenomenon has had an impact on the rate at which the H5N1 virus spreads, cIt does not exist in avian influenza.
This climate phenomenon involves abnormal warming of the eastern tropical Pacific, causing heavy rains and flooding along the coast of mainland Ecuador.
Gustavo Jiménez Uzcátegui is principal investigator of the CDF Seabird Project. He told EFE that after multiple rounds of monitoring and collecting hundreds of samples, they had identified four affected birds: Red-footed boobies, blue-footed boobies, Nazca birds and frigatebirds.
Tests show 34 positive cases in birds, But for the remaining deaths, it “has not yet been proven” to be caused by bird flu, he said. He noted that “ground zero” is Point Pitt on San Cristóbal Island, and that there are also cases on Genovissa, Darwin, Wolfe and Lobos Islands.
Disease comparison
They are currently conducting surveys in the archipelago – about a thousand kilometers off the coast of mainland Ecuador – why The disease has not spread yet It occurs easily in the mainland areas of Peru, Chile, and Ecuador.
This disease, in which Arrival September 2023 Flying to the Galapagos Islands, It is dispersed mechanically (transferred by equipment or by humans) and directly (from diseased to healthy animals).
Jimenez said the virus reached the archipelago through affected individuals, “who may have come from Feeding Areas in the Galapagos Islands.”
blight effect
The disease “is literally devastating, The animal will die after 48 hours,” Jimenez said, adding that bird flu generally has a greater impact in colder regions.
“The assumption we made was that Thanks to El Niño, The temperature has risen” and stay that way Prevent viruses from becoming more active He noted that different species are affected.
For this reason, he speculated, “Maybe El Niño only has a positive effect on this disease.” Don’t be so vicious As active as a normal cold season,” this will be verified by monitoring after the warm season and El Niño pass, which may last until mid-2024.
“Over thousands of years, El Niño and La Niña have had both positive and negative impacts on Galapagos species and habitats, and these species have evolved in response,” commented Jimenez. But problems arise when El Niño occurs. Climate change is becoming stronger and more frequent due to the climate crisis.
Areas closed due to bird flu
“We have taken follow-up actions and in line with the biosecurity mechanisms this requires, we have suspended ship visits (to certain areas) because The spread of viruses can occur through physical means: Red-footed boobies follow ships, defecate on board, and passengers can trample them and transport them to other islands,” explains Izurieta.
therefore, Temporarily closed due to tourism Genoviza Island, San Cristobal North, Punta Piet, Lobos Island. And, “visits to Punta Suarez are suspended in order to avoid damage to other islands with endemic and vulnerable populations, such as Española,” he explained.
Avian Flu Restrictions
This Monday, March 18th, they lifted restrictions – Starting last week – land tour to Punta Espinosa (Fernandina Island) and Bahia Urbina (Isabela Island). Once they ruled out suspicion of bird flu in those areas of the laboratory where several dead birds were found.
Previously, the possibility of visiting beach areas has opened up a bit, Far from the colonies, Have all the technical reports to avoid the spread of this virus and manage tourism in the best possible way,” Izurieta explained.
Park officials said that if the latest monitoring can be carried out on wolf island return a negative diagnosis, they can open the first week of April, Then there’s Punta Pete, but that’s all still being worked out.