More than 500 wolves and sea lions die from bird flu in Brazil

At least 522 sea lions and sea lions have died from an outbreak of bird flu on Brazil’s southern coast, the Rio Grande do Sul state government said.

“So far, 552 aquatic mammals have died in different areas of the coast,” the Rio Grande do Sul State Secretariat of Agriculture and Livestock confirmed.

In the small town of Santa Vitoria do Palma alone, 164 animals died on Friday.

Several sea lions have been sighted a few kilometers from the Uruguayan border, where recent reports of hundreds of sea lions and sea lion deaths have also been attributed to avian influenza.

“These notifications will not change the state and national health situation, and there is no risk to the consumption of meat and eggs,” a statement from the secretariat said.

Brazilian authorities made it clear that “from now on, samples will no longer be collected from animals of the same species in which the virus has been confirmed,” and only new species showing symptoms will be examined.

Although human transmission is uncommon, local residents are advised not to approach suspicious animals or birds.

In early October, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock reported the country’s first outbreak of the disease among marine mammals, in Playa Casino, Rio Grande do Sul, about 230 kilometers from the Uruguayan town of Chuy.

However, the Brazilian government said that as “commercial production has not been affected”, Brazil continues to maintain its status as a “disease-free” country.

Peru, Chile and Argentina have also recorded deaths of their marine animals from the virus, which causes severe muscular, neurological and respiratory symptoms. It is spread through the mouth and respiratory tract, and through secretions and excreta.