Uruguay warns of bird flu in wild sea lions

Montevideo, 5 September (EFE) – Uruguay’s Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP) reported Tuesday the country’s first case of bird flu in a wild mammal, sea lions, and issued a warning to contacts. Warning and these animals.

The South American country’s portfolio announced the news through a statement posted on the social network X (formerly known as Twitter), explaining that the avian influenza H5 disease was confirmed by analysis of animals found dead The presence. The beaches of Montevideo.

According to the statement, the sea lion “first appeared with similar symptoms on Thursday, Aug. 31, and was not contained until Sept. 2,” when he was swabbed by MGAP ranchers, staff from the National Agency for Aquatic Resources and Services. .

After confirming the animal had avian flu, MGAP “strongly” advised avoiding “direct contact between humans and pets and live or dead sea lions”.

In turn, he stated that “if specimens of these species are found to have corresponding symptoms or die,” the email from the National Aquatic Resources Agency should be notified.

On February 15, 2023, Uruguay detected the first case of highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza in history; the disease was detected in a black-necked swan found in the Rocha department (province) in the southeastern part of the country.

Thus, on May 2, Uruguay began the first phase of bird flu vaccination, with MGAP delivering the first 900,000 doses to hatchery birds.

On March 23, Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Fernando Matos said that Uruguay will vaccinate about 5 million chickens against bird flu.

Vaccinations are mandatory but free and are performed by certified veterinarians.Effie

APF/RRT