:quality(85)//cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/infobae/D3DDLHBLEGVGWPTO7TPO3V7VR4.jpg "Avian flu: 26 cases detected in 8 provinces")
With the detection of a new case positive of bird flu (AI) in a barnyard bird in the province of Buenos Aires had been found until today 26 animals with illness, in 8 of the 24 boroughs of the country, including a poultry, which marked a turning point since the country temporarily lost its status as a country free from this infection.
More cases of bird flu in Argentina: there are already 19 detections in eight provinces
Jurisdictions that have reported positive cases in wild and backyard birds include Córdoba, Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, Jujuy, Neuquén, Río Negro, San Luis and Salta. What is the situation in the country
The National Health and Food Quality Service (Senasa) confirmed on Wednesday 1 new positive case of the H5 avian flu in backyard birds Since province of Buenos Aires. In this way they added 26 total disease detections to date.
Of these 26 confirmed cases, 3 were wild birds, 22 backyard and 1 commercial. The official body pointed out that so far they have been detected in 8 quarters13″ Cordoba5″ Buenos Aires2″ Black River2″ Santa Fe, 1″ Jujuy, 1″ Neuquen1″ San Luis and 1 in Salta.
So far, the Senasa National Laboratory has analyzed 186 samples of the same number of cases reported in different parts of the country of which, as mentioned, 26 tested positive. This Wednesday they were studied 9 samples, of which 8 had a negative diagnosis and 1 tested positive AI H5 in a backyard bird from a facility in the city of Buenos Aires Rauch.
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Senasa reported that after confirming the cases, officers from the Buenos Aires South Regional Center of this organization, they will carry out the corresponding sanitary actions in the properties concerned. He also said he was working on sanitation and sweeping actions in all the regions where the discoveries were made. At the same time, in areas of the country where the presence of AI has not been detected, Senasa maintains permanent prevention and surveillance measures. In this sense, he specified that he has reinforced controls at the border crossings with Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay, in the provinces of Entre Ríos, Chaco, Formosa, Corrientes, Misiones, Jujuy and Salta.
Avian flu or influenza is an infectious disease that mainly affects birds and is caused by a virus of the family Orthomyxoviridae. Some avian influenza virus subtypes are high pathogenicity, mainly by type A subtypes (H5 and H7), and causes severe disease in birds that can spread rapidly, resulting in high mortality rates.
The ace wild birds, mainly migratoryare the natural host of the virus and are the main factor in its spread throughout the Americas. Poultry populations can contract the disease through contact with infected wild birds. In birds, the avian influenza virus is excreted in faeces and respiratory secretions and can be transmitted by direct contact with the secretions of infected birds or indirectly through contaminated water.
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So far the Transmission from animals to humans is very rare. In America, since last year, only 2 cases of people affected by bird flu have been reported, who had been in close contact with birds. One case was reported in the United States on April 29, 2022. The second case was detected in a girl in Ecuador on January 9. Although the risk of transmission is considered low, those considered at risk are those who have had direct contact without adequate protection with infected animals (alive or dead) or with their contaminated environment. Plucking, handling infected poultry carcasses and preparing poultry for consumption, particularly in a domestic setting, may also be risk factors.
The detection of the first case of AI in a farm in the Río Negro commercial circuit led to the loss of disease-free status for Argentina and self-suspension of exports of poultry products.
The Secretary for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Nation, Juan Jose Bahillo, together with the president and vice president of Senasa, Diana Guillén and Rodolfo Acerbi, held a meeting via zoom with the governor of Río Negro, Arabela Carreras, during which they coordinated joint tasks in the region. A special team led by the national director of animal health of Senasa, Ximena Melón, visited this province and met with the provincial authorities of production, agro-industry and public health to agree on joint actions on the ground, which also implies great vigilance 3 km around. the location of the case and sweeps within a radius of 7 km.
Senasa recalled its appeal to the productive sector to strengthen the management, hygiene and biosecurity measures of its poultry farms since notify immediately any detection of nervous, digestive or respiratory clinical signs, decreased egg production, water or food consumption and high mortality in domestic or wild birds. He also reminded to take all preventive measures and not to handle the birds when these clinical pictures are detected.
Notification of suspected cases in birds or the discovery of dead domestic and/or wild birds should be made to the Senasa attend one of workshops or by the Senasa Notification Appalso by sending an email to [email protected] or entering the “Notify Senasa” section from the agency’s website or by sending a WhatsApp at 11-5700-5704.
In addition to Río Negro, it was also reported that checks were underway in other parts of the country; in Neuquén epidemiological research was carried out within the Laguna Blanca National Park with members of the brigade and park rangers. In the province of CordobaSenasa realized 12 route commands next to Cordoba Government Police and Dependencies as well as sanitary actions and rakes. in the city Salta de Guachipasagents of NOA Regional Center North of Senasa gave an informative talk on avian flu to members of the Provincial Bird Watchers Club, in which participants were invited to be part of the epidemiological surveillance network. At the same time, information dissemination actions were carried out in the town of El Carril, also in Salta.
A team made up of officers from the Regional Center NOA Sur del Senasa and some Province of Tucuman do one Surveillance raid at the El Cadillal dam, 26 km north of the capital, San Miguel. Wetlands and the lake shore were visited and a drone was used to observe the behavior of wild birds in the area.
In the Province of Catamarcathe authorities of the Coordination of Animal Health of the Regional Center NOA Sur del Senasa reported on the situation on AI at the national level during an extraordinary meeting of the Provincial Animal Health Commission (Coprosa) in the presence of technicians and professionals from Public Health, Animal Health, Poultry and security forces. Meanwhile, in a video meetingthe authorities of the Senasa Chaco Formosa Regional Center and some Ministry of Public Health of Chaco They discussed the avian flu situation in the region and agreed to work in an articulated manner.
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