Uruguay’s Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP) reported the first case of bird flu infection in birds in February this year, but found the first case of H5 bird flu in mammals on the 5th of this month. Wild in Uruguay. The disease is now affecting sea lions. This record was confirmed following a corresponding analysis of dead sea lions found in Playa del Cerro de Montevideo by the National Agency for Aquatic Resources and the General Directorate of the Livestock Service of MGAP.
In a statement, MGAP said the sea lion first appeared with matching symptoms on Thursday, August 31, and was contained until September 2, when all corresponding swab tests were performed.
authorities It is strongly recommended that people and pets avoid direct contact with sea lion specimens, live or dead, and to notify infodinara@mgap.gub.uy
Authorities at the Punta del Este resort began putting up a fence on the harbor on Thursday to prevent public access to the sea lions that frequent the area and people come to watch.
Communicating with the public: Bird flu detected in sea lions
Montevideo, September 7, 2023 – The Ministry of the Environment (MA), the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP) and the Ministry of Public Health (MSP) report that after confirming a sea lion infected with H5 avian influenza and registering a possible Following similar cases, relevant health measures are being implemented to detect and act immediately to contain the disease.
For animals, the disease has no cure. The virus can cause severe muscular, nervous and respiratory effects that can lead to death.
The risk of this infection to human health is low, and to date there have been no cases of transmission of the virus from marine mammals to humans worldwide.
In this sense, the importance of avoiding direct contact of people and pets with living or dead sea lion specimens is reiterated.
As soon as you come across a suspected symptomatic or dead specimen of this species, you must notify immediately by email to infodinara@mgap.gub.uy or denuncias.dinabise@ambiente.gub.uy
Currently, there are no cases or open foci of avian influenza in Uruguay’s production, backyard or wild birds. Detection in marine mammals will not affect the animal’s self-declared health status to the World Organization for Animal Health (WHO).
The H5 virus is transmitted by oral and respiratory routes, through secretions (saliva or mucus) and excretions (urine, feces); it can survive in the environment for a limited and wind) changes.
It’s important to point out that eating poultry, fish, and other seafood does not pose any risk to people’s health.
Avian influenza does not affect fish fauna, so fish stocks are not at risk.
Appropriate hygiene measures have been taken to safely dispose of the found wolf carcasses, thereby limiting the spread of disease.
The Ministerial Group, together with the sectoral CECOED, the national SINAE and the production sector, is active in monitoring coastal zones and islands to monitor the behavior of the disease and its modes of transmission.