They warn that bird flu outbreaks could last up to two months: “In Peru and Chile, this continues”

Since 10 days, Bird flu hits sea lion colony in Mar del Plata hard and other cities on the Atlantic coast of Argentina. In this city, there is a lot of concern about this situation: Epidemic has killed 10% of Mar del Plata’s population Marine mammal based on the harbor’s southern breakwater.

Shocking data from Daily surveys by health authorities locals confirmed 0223 As of Friday, a total of 70 sea lions were killed by the virus.

The number of dead sea lion specimens found nationwide increased to 200 Fuego, Santa Cruz, Chubut and Río Negro provinces, and Necochea, Monte Hermoso, Villagesell, Colonel Rosales in Buenos Aires and Mar del Plata and other towns.These infectious diseases are First documented in a mammal in Argentina and attributes its origin to Nearly 100% mortality with highly pathogenic variants

Now, Experts warn outbreak could last more than two months, as happened in Peru and ChileSea lion populations in both countries have also been hit hard by the virus. With the background of the region, Authorities in affected regions expect the outbreak in Argentina to end by summer, although it is now “in full swing” Its duration depends on the dynamics of the wildlife.

Veterinarians specializing in poultry viruses at the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) were consulted by state news agency Télam following the alarming situation, Ariel Vagnozzi

along with biologists and researchers from Conicet and the National University of Mar del Plata (Unmdp), Diego Rodriguezhe offers some keys to understanding this phenomenon.

– what is bird flu?

“This is the name of a highly contagious disease produced by the influenza A virus. There are several subtypes within the genus,” Vagnozzi noted, including the H5N1 subtype registered in sea lions.

“All variants of influenza A are found only in wild birds; therefore, they are considered to be important reservoirs of the virus and play a very important role in the global spread of the disease,” he added.

– Was it related to the H1N1 subtype of virus that caused the pandemic in 2009?

INTA experts said: “H1N1 is influenza A, which is the cause of the outbreak in humans. The two viruses are not related, and the H1N1 virus originated in pigs.”

– How did bird flu spread to Argentine sea lions?

“The virus arrived in South America last year via migratory birds,” Rodriguez said. “Earlier this year, the worst cases were in Peru, where seabirds had a high mortality rate. The virus mutated and infected sea lions, whose deaths The rate is also high,” explained.

He continued: “Due to the migration of animals, the virus spread south, and by the middle of the year there were deaths in southern Chile, and a few weeks earlier due to the interaction between the Pacific and Atlantic colonies, the virus had spread to southern Chile.” A few days later. Tierra del Fuego and up (to the Argentinian coast) can be reached within . “

– What are the symptoms in an infected animal?

“Avian influenza is a respiratory disease, so of course it causes difficulty breathing and a lot of mucus. It also has neurological effects, manifested by disorientation, lack of coordination and even immobility in the infected animal,” explains the Unmdp researcher .

“It’s a highly contagious disease, almost 100 per cent fatal. Except for those animals with very good immunity and very low infection rates, there is no outcome other than death,” he added.

– How do these infectious diseases affect the viability of the species?

With regard to sea lions in particular, Rodriguez said the death toll in the country is about 200, “not that catastrophic so far, but you have to be on top and see that evolve.”

In Peru and Chile, the impact has been “very severe, with thousands of animals killed, but not to the point of endangering the survival of the populations,” he said.

Is it possible for the virus to spread to other species?

“One of the most relevant features of the influenza virus is its ability to evolve, making it possible to infect a wide variety of animal species. If an outbreak in sea lions persists for a long time, we cannot predict how the situation will persist,” Vagnozzi said. “The time has come,” or whether the virus will infect other species, including humans.

However, he emphasized, “transmission from one species to another is usually infrequent, and when that happens, the virus is not always able to spread in an epidemic fashion because it needs to adapt.”

– Since the adaptation is “easier” when the new infecting species is genetically closer, are humans at greater risk in the face of recent mammalian cases?

“The possibility of avian influenza virus jumping to humans is possible, but very low. The fact that viral infection is found in mammals in nature may mean that the probability is increased. Approaching animals killed by influenza and handling them Will increase a little.” Possibility,” warns the veterinarian.

However, he assured that transmission to mammals (marine cats, feral and domestic cats, foxes, ferrets and raccoons) has been reported in the world and that “so far no sustained transmission in humans has been recorded”, which It’s just that “the number of cases in the world is relatively small and there is no human-to-human transmission.

– Can sea lion infections be transmitted to marine species consumed by humans?

“Regarding fish, molluscs, crustaceans and other aquatic products, there have been no apparent bird flu infections so far,” Rodriguez said.

– Will this outbreak affect the summer in the affected areas?

“Infections in Peru and Chile lasted about a month and a half to two months, and we expect infections here to be faster,” the biologist said.

Given the precedent in the region, authorities in affected areas expect the outbreak in Argentina to end by summer, although the outbreak is currently “in full swing” and its duration depends on wildlife dynamics.

– What are the recommendations for the people in the affected areas?

With the goal of “avoiding cross-contamination,” experts unanimously advise people not to travel to areas where inanimate or symptomatic sea lions are present, especially not to bring pets, to avoid eventual exposure to sea lions. Virus.