Uruguay: They detected the first case of bird flu in a sea lion in Playa del Cerro

The Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries has confirmed Uruguay’s first case of bird flu infection in a wild mammal. This is a sea lion found dead on Cerro Beach.

The portfolio reported that the animal first appeared on Thursday, August 31, with symptoms consistent with the disease, and remained contained until September 2, the date when all corresponding swab tests were completed. Those studies later determined it was bird flu.

In recent days, some samples have arrived on the coast of Uruguay with symptoms that suggest the possible entry of bird flu, which has hit other parts of the world in recent weeks, Killed hundreds on Argentina’s Atlantic coast

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The situation in Uruguay has raised concerns among marine animal experts consulted by El País, mainly fearing that the bird flu virus would enter Maldonado’s famous island of Lobos or Rocha’s Cape Polonio, killing hundreds of people. .

Jaime Coronel, director of the National Aquatic Resources Agency, said that Uruguay has “the largest wolf population in South America” ​​and that the entry of bird flu means that “there may be fewer wolf populations” as in other countries, “wolves and lion seafarers”. also infected with the virus.

Videos of sea lions convulsing — one of the symptoms of the virus — began arriving on cellphones on Tuesday afternoon at local beach experts.

Meanwhile, a sea lion pup is understood to have emerged from the waters of the Rio de la Plata across Avenue de la Repubblica and into the garden fountain of a building in Punta Gorda, an incident captured on video by Save the Animals. Published by the Wharf.

in conversation nationRichard Tesor, a member of the entity, said animals would use the buildings to seek shelter, especially on cold days like this Tuesday.

“In Punta del Este we saw sea lions walking around Gollero. We let the puppies sleep at the Punta del Este bus terminal and they would sleep under the bus,” Tesor explained.

In recent days, the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries has repeatedly issued warnings due to deaths in Argentina. “In view of the possible cases of avian influenza in sea lions and sea lions off the coast of Uruguay,” one of them said on September 1, “it is necessary to avoid direct contact of people and pets with live or dead specimens.”.

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