Avian flu in Argentina: cases increased to 19 and has already been detected in eight provinces

Almost two weeks after the first case of avian flu in the country was confirmed, the National Agrifood Health and Quality Service (Senasa) reported five new H5 avian flu (AI) positives in backyard birds. This way, The infections at the national level rose to 19, they rose to eight provinces: Córdoba, Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, Jujuy, Neuquén, Río Negro, San Luis and Salta.

The normal organism that the cases were detected in the towns of Cayetano and Tres Lomas (Buenos Aires), Roque Saenz Peña (Córdoba), Choele Choel (Río Negro) and San Luis capital. It is the first positive for both Río Negro and San Luis; while in Córdoba he is the ninth and in Buenos Aires the third.

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According to the Senasa statement, in all cases the virus is detected in backyard birds. “The Senasa National Laboratory diagnosed the positive cases to AI H5 in samples taken from backyard birds (chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys) from establishments located in the towns of San Cayetano and Tres Lomas, Buenos Aires; Roque Saenz Peña, Córdoba ; Choele Choel, Río Negro and San Luis capital”, information.

Regarding the national situation, they clarified that “of the notifications received by Senasa, There are 19 confirmed cases in wild and backyard birds to date (9 in Córdoba, 3 in Buenos Aires, 2 in Santa Fe, 1 in Jujuy, 1 in Neuquén, 1 in Río Negro, 1 in San Luis and 1 in Salta)”.

From the confirmation of the cases, agents of the regional centers of Senasa “they carried out the corresponding sanitary actions in the affected properties”. “Senasa is working on sanitary and screening actions in all the regions where the results were obtained,” they detailed.

Province by province, Senasa’s measures in the event of avian flu cases

After the detection of the first in Jujuy, on Thursday, February 16 The Ministry of Agriculture of the Nation declared a health emergency through Resolution 147/2023 due to the possible consequences for poultry activity.

In the Resolution of the Secretary of Agriculture of the Nation, it was also clarified that during the migrations of wild birds in the spring and summer seasons towards the southern hemisphere, the H5 subtype of the virus was reported in Mexico, Panama, Honduras, Ecuador, Venezuela, Cuba, Costa Rica, Chile, Bolivia and Uruguay.

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With this panorama, Senasa is coordinating surveillance actions with the National Parks Administration, the national ministries of Environment and Sustainable Development, Health, and Security, and the Directorate of Wildlife. Among other measures, Border controls were activated and surveillance was heightened in birds that are in the surroundings of the sites where those that are migratory settle.

In the province of Black riverSenasa carried out awareness actions, together with the personnel of the Laguna Blanca National Park, the search continued in Villa Puente Picún Leufú, Zapala.

is Cordova, last Friday, February 24, twelve road controls were carried out throughout the Province. Agents from the Córdoba del Senasa Regional Center, the Provincial Police and other provincial agencies participated in the operation.

Added to this, since the beginning of the emergency rakes are carried out in establishments in which the positive cases are detected and in the surrounding properties. In that, samples are taken from birds with symptoms compatible with the meaning of the disease and suspicions and notifications are dealt with.

“We are very committed to health, surveillance and prevention actions, articulating with the public and private sectors in pursuit of the health status and protection of the commercial sector“, commented the director of the Córdoba Regional Center of Senasa, Gustavo Zabaletta.

Cases of bird complaints are growing and the outbreak is attributed to “migratory birds” from the northern hemisphere

In the case of Jujuy, agents from the Senasa North NOA Regional Center carried out a survey and inspection of the state of the birds in the Popayán Lagoon and in the town of El Ceibal, San Antonio Department. For the moment, no health news has been detected in the wild population.

Likewise, together with the team from the Biodiversity Secretariat of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of Jujuy, continue with surveillance tasks in the Laguna de Pozuelasthe area where the first positive case of avian influenza in the country was detected.

is jumpProvincial Police officers were trained on the characteristics of the avian complaint and the symptoms that birds suspected of suffering from the disease could present.

For his part, in Neuquen, agents from Senasa’s Northern Patagonia Regional Center, together with their counterparts from National Parks and Provincial Fauna, implemented raking tasks in Laguna Blanca, where a case was detected in recent days. The Municipality of Zapala, the Ministries of Health and of Production and Industry of Neuquén and the authorities of the local Hospital also collaborated.

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Added to this, Senasa is taking prevention and surveillance measures in areas of the country where the virus was not detected. For example in Between rivers Border controls were strengthened due to an AI case in Uruguay. The same happened with the border crossings with Brazil, Bolivia (where AI cases were also registered) and Paraguay located in the provinces of chaco, Formosa, currents, Missions, Jujuy and jump.

Likewise, in currents and MissionsSenasa will strengthen joint prevention and surveillance work because positives were not detected in either of the two provinces.

“The fundamental objective of these actions is protect the animal health status of our primary source of production and the health of the population”, detailed from the Government in a statement.

MB / DE