The dead specimen found on the coast of the province had the disease, confirmed by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Rionegro.
A dozen sea lion specimens were found dead or emerged between the El Condor resort and the Punta Bermeja de Videmar Nature Reserve, the Rio Negro Environment and Climate Change Minister and members of the local municipal government said. Bird flu symptoms. According to the information, the infection affecting the bitter sea lion (Otaria flavescens) species is considered highly pathogenic.
Fabián Llanos, the Undersecretary of the Environment and Climate Change of the Rio Negro, declared the restriction on the use of Punta Bermeja beach a precautionary principle, saying that under the Senasa protocol, it is recommended that animal carcasses be censored. bury. “We’re not sure how it evolves or how it’s contagious, it’s going to be circling the coast and we hope it passes as quickly as possible so people don’t experience that in the summer,” the official said.
A few days ago, dozens of sea lions were found dead in the port of Necochea, in the city of Buenos Aires, and Senasa professionals are trying to determine whether this is due to a possible bird flu infection. Also in Tierra del Fuego, the death of 21 sea lions was reported and at least seven were confirmed to be infected with bird flu, prompting the provincial government to put up posters to prevent people from entering the coastal sanctuary in the city of Rio Grande.
After the new findings in the Rionegro, authorities said, “Avian influenza is a potentially zoonotic disease, meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans.” found in the excrement and secretions of mammals and marine mammals, posing a real risk to people who may come into contact with these animals or their bodily fluids.”
Senasa personnel collected specimens in the Viedma region and formed an interagency working committee with the goal of “monitoring and effectively addressing” the problem. The working committee is composed of the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, the Coordinating Department of the Environmental Health Field and Epidemiology of the Ministry of Health, the municipalities of Viedma, Senasa, the Argentine Navy Department and the Rio Negro Police Department.
Within this framework, the public is advised to maintain “restricted beach access”. It clarified: “Affected beach areas are strongly requested not to enter, and avoiding contact with these areas will help reduce the risk of contagion.” In addition, it is recalled that pets are not allowed on the beach because “domestic animals are very dangerous to come into contact with the virus and will Facilitating the spread of the virus.” Authorities also advise keeping a safe distance and avoiding direct contact “if sea lions are seen or dead birds are found to minimize the chance of virus transmission”.