Health emergency caused by avian influenza continues on Chubut coast — OPI Santa Cruz

(Chubut Province IPO) – The health emergency for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) established by the National Service for Agricultural Food Hygiene and Quality remains in force after more than 130 elephant seals were found dead due to avian influenza on the Chubut coast (Senasa).

On Wednesday, the National Laboratory of Senesa diagnosed a new case of avian influenza (AI) H5 in an elephant seal in the Valdes Peninsula.

Senasa noted that prevention and containment actions for the disease remain effective nationwide and continues to collaborate with provincial and national organizations and the production sector in different regions of the country.

Due to the behavior, transmission and spread of the disease and the presence of HPAI viruses in birds and other wildlife, it must be emphasized that preventive and epidemiological surveillance measures remain effective.

It stressed that the detection of the virus in marine mammals and wild and/or backyard birds does not affect the animal health status declared to the World Organization for Animal Health (WHO), with Argentina maintaining poultry as a country free of highly pathogenic avian influenza. status, but they can produce viruses that would be a challenge if they entered commercial poultry farming. (OPI Agency Chubut Province