Semppart warns bird flu cases ‘an unprecedented emergency in the region’

The current outbreak of avian influenza in Argentina is part of a global event that began in 2020 with the emergence of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus variant belonging to clade 2.3.4.4b, which has caused unprecedented numbers of deaths in Africa , wild birds and poultry died in some countries in Asia and Europe. In 2021, the virus spread to North America and reached Central and South America in 2022.
In mid-August, the virus was also detected in fur seals (Otaria flavescens) found dead or showing symptoms associated with the disease on the Argentinian coast, and health surveillance, sample collection and control measures have since been implemented to prevent the spread of the virus.
Experts stress that what is happening along the coast is a unique and highly relevant event, the emergence of a virus that has never been recorded in the region, affecting elephants, sea lions and birds, causing respiratory symptoms and/or Nervous and fatal results. Furthermore, it is a virus with zoonotic potential and therefore also poses a risk to public health.
In this sense, the current situation demonstrates the importance of establishing a wildlife health surveillance program, through necropsy protocols and the collection of samples of diagnostic value that allow us to understand what are the causes of death, which diseases affect marine animals, and which microorganisms are present in Transmission among people and what the risks are to public health.
Animals, especially wild animals, are thought to be the source of more than 70% of all emerging zoonotic diseases.

impact on humans
Regarding the potential for the HPAI H5N1 virus to affect humans, it is important to emphasize that despite the zoonotic potential of the virus, the risk to public health is low. The risk is greater for people exposed to infected animals through work-related or recreational activities.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 17 human cases of H5N1 avian influenza were reported between 2020 and 2023, all linked to poultry production workers during the outbreak. A related fact is that human-to-human transmission has not been demonstrated in these cases.