They find first case of bird flu in elephant seals in Chubut province

during the outbreak Avian Influenza exist sea ​​lionhe National Agri-food Health and Quality Service (Senasa) The first confirmed case was in walrus in the province Chubut language.

Samples that gave positive results Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5 Taken from mammals found dead in the area tombo pointAccording to the agency, it is about 80 kilometers away from the Chubut provincial capital.

In this regard, the coordinator Animal Health Directorate of the Regional Center of Southern Patagonia, German Rezanovich,Interpreted as teram “In fact, positive cases of avian influenza have been confirmed in specimens from elephant seals and sea lions.”

So far, more than 200 positive cases have been registered among sea lions detected in 10 countries. grand river, fire nation; punta bermeja, este san antonio, Rio Grande Mountains, black river; Necochea, mar del plata, Claromeco, Mayor Bulatovich Spa and st blaise, buenos aires; exist loyola point, required port and Caletta Olivia, Santa Claus; and Port Pyramid, puerto madryn, shrimp, Commodore Rivadavia, Radha Tilly and Punta Tombo, Chubut Province.

However, nothing is recorded”Leonine Mironga“[The walruses]were infected with the virus. So this became the first positive on record for these characteristics.”

For Rezanowicz, the strange thing is that “none of the birds that were sampled showed this condition, nor did a cow found nearby that was sampled and tested positive for HPAI. Negative.”

in some meaning, Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Protected Areas Officials from Chubut province explained that “there is a colony of elephant seals in ‘Dos pozos’ near Punta Tombo and it is suspected that the specimen found came from there.”

Confirmation of the case comes just days before the Chubut government launches the grape season. Magellanic Penguin It is estimated that around one million specimens were concentrated in the area when its population reached saturation.

They clarified: “For now, the season will be considered started because nothing can stop it: there are no cases of avian influenza among penguins and no large arrival of specimens has been observed so far.”

Likewise, the opening of the penguin colony will follow strict health protocols, including cleaning of floors for shoes, small group entry, and distancing measures to avoid contact with specimens as much as possible.

Since the outbreak of avian influenza in sea lions, Senasa has issued a series of recommendations to be considered if suspected cases are encountered. In this way, they recommend avoiding contact with the secretions and feces of sick or dead animals with suspicious symptoms. If you notice any such situation, it is necessary to notify the authorities immediately so that appropriate procedures can be implemented.

Additionally, it is recommended to keep pets responsibly and limit their access to beaches with sick or dead animals. In turn, if death, neurological, digestive and/or respiratory symptoms are detected in wild and domestic birds, it is necessary to notify Senasa.

The agency stressed that it will not exterminate any wildlife and sea lions being treated for suspected cases of avian influenza. On the other hand, the samples collected were collected from deceased specimens whose bodies were buried on site to prevent the spread of the virus. At the same time, the Agri-Food Hygiene Agency coordinates with local authorities to implement strict prevention programmes.