So far this year, sea lions, Humboldt penguins, chungungos, small cetaceans and nearly one Huilin have died from a particularly severe bird flu outbreak on Chile’s north coast.
The disease, which may have infected sea lions and other marine mammals, is present in 12 of the country’s 16 regions, according to data released Thursday by the National Fisheries Service (Serna Pesca).
The last species to be affected was Huilin, a species of otter, also a marine mammal, which ran aground in the southernmost Magallanes region of the country.
“The confirmation of the new species and locality has revitalized our shoreline active surveillance protocols, coordinating burials of stranded animals with responsible authorities, with the aim of preventing the spread of the virus.” Esteban Donoso, deputy national director of Serna Pesca, said.
To date, in total, “7,654 sea lion specimens, 1,186 Humboldt penguins, 25 Chungunggo, 19 porpoises, 12 Chilean porpoises and a stranded Huilin carcass have been found on the country’s beaches,” Sernajomin said. said in a statement.
The northern coast of the country is the most affected.
Over the weekend, more than 227 dead sea lions and 45 Humboldt penguins were stranded on beaches in the Chañaral region.
At the end of March, Chile reported its first human case of bird flu. The man, a 53-year-old man, had a “severe” flu.
Chilean health officials say there is no human-to-human transmission. Humans become infected with bird flu only through contact with sick animals.
The virus was also detected in wild birds in Chile.
Source: Diario.Elmundo
