They confirmed the first case of avian influenza in an elephant seal in Chubut Province

The National Agricultural Food Sanitation and Quality Service (Senasa) confirms new case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AIAP) H5 detected in marine mammals The most relevant fact is that one of the positive results was the discovery of an elephant seal specimen for the first time It is located in the Punta Tombo region, 80 kilometers south of the capital of Chubut Province.

“The agency’s national laboratory diagnosed new disease-positive samples taken from sea lions and elephant seals found dead, including Avian influenza detected in a new marine mammal species: elephant seal”, they said through a statement.

Lee More than 145 sea lions have died from bird flu so far, and concerns are growing

The peculiarity of this case is that although more than 200 fur seals have been infected with the virus, This is the first time it has been recorded in a specimen of “Mirounga leonina” (the elephant seal’s scientific name), which is a more robust species.

200 positive cases in sea lions They are found in: Rio Grande, Tierra del Fuego; Punta Bermeja, San Antonio del Este, Sierra Grande, Rio Negro; Necochea, Mar del Plata, Claromecó, Balneario Mayor Buratovich and San Blas in Buenos Aires; Punta Loyola in Puerto de Seado and Caleta Olivia in Santa Cruz; and Puerto Piramides, Puerto Madryn, Cama Rones, Commodore Rivadavia, Radatili and Puntatombo, Chubut.