Avian flu in Argentina: Senasa extreme vigilance to prevent the spread of the disease

He National Health and Food Quality Service (SENASA) maintains the “red alert” due to the detection of cases of avian influenza in wild birds and in certain free birds in the patios of houses located in Santa Fe or Córdoba. At the same time, 98 notifications of dead or symptomatic animals have been received to date, none in the production establishments.

The health authorities maintain the control and follow-up of each case with the aim of “protect Argentina’s zoosanitary status and avoid harming productive activity”. Today there will be a meeting in the government. It will be headed by the Minister of Economy, Sergio Massaand the Secretary of Agriculture, Juan Jose Bahilloand Senasa officials, led by the president of the health agency, Diana Guillén.

So far, Senasa has reported that only wild birds or in the backyards of houses have been found, confirming the detection of five positive cases in Jujuy, Salta, Córdoba and Santa Fe. In this regard, Rodolfo Acerbivice-president of the health agency, in dialogue with this media, explained that before the appearance of the cases “a surveillance zone was immediately imposed three kilometers around the place where the birds tested positive were found. , with cases of H5 pathogenicity, and mapping of commercial farms has been completed, if there are any farms such as laying birds or broilers in the area A second additional seven kilometer security cordon is also From Senasa, together with the provinces and municipalities, they are working hard to ensure the biosecurity measures in the area through movement control and disinfection actions.

“As long as we only have positive cases in migratory birds or in the patios of private homes, the status of a country free from bird flu is not lost. Thus, Argentina can continue to export its poultry products without difficulty. We do not underestimate the virus due to its high contagiousness, as it can be transported, although it is sensitive to sun and heat,” Acerbi added.

Senasa authorities said that It is very difficult for humans to catch bird fever, since the virus present in the mucous membrane of the infected animal must come into contact with the eyes or the mucous membrane of a person. The virus also cannot be transmitted by ingestion. For this reason, it is recommended Do not come into contact with sick animals and give the alert to the WhatsApp number 11-5700-5704. However, for birds, the virus is highly contagious upon detection of infected migratory birds.

Argentina currently reports daily to the World Organization for Animal Health (OMSA), based in Paris, on the details of the cases detected as well as to the countries that buy poultry products from Argentina. A communication protocol is strictly followed with the sending of information to Arab markets, China and the European Union. Thus, Argentina maintains the status of a country free from avian influenza and that it has controlled the disease in wild and backyard environments.

“So far,” Acerbi said, “SENASA has detected cases in wild birds; in Santa Fe it’s a backyard; the second in Cordoba a turkey died in a backyard ( i.e. the interior patio of the houses where there are, for example, chicken coops): there is an awareness campaign and people are denouncing it. In 2021, we had a suspicion, in 2022, we had 30 in analysis, and now there are about 100. People, veterinarians and rangers from national and provincial parks, with whom we work very well, report what happens in the water bodies when there is a dead bird. The SENASA laboratory works every day and receives samples from all over the country,” he said.

Acerbi also pointed out that bird flu is a disease that 23 years ago was detected all over the world, particularly in Europe and also in the Americas, and now detected in birds such as ducks and geese that migrate from the northern hemisphere to the southern hemisphere. “We have been studying the migration lines since 2022. One from the Pacific passes through the center of Córdoba, and there is another that passes through Punta del Este and descends into the belly of the province of Buenos Aires. A carrier bird was detected there and made South American countries suffer,” the official said.

When the health specialists receive the reported birds, necrosis is performed on them, the organs are analyzed, as well as the blood and secretions, and within 48 hours of receiving the material, Senasa can tell if it s If the virus is low or high, the pathogenicity (classified H5) or death is due to another cause. It should be remembered that the health agency launched an alert with the first outbreaks of avian flu recorded in Mexico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic in September 2023 and that it is now maintained, in parallel with the checks carried out by the health authorities. local. After the cases recorded in Bolivia, the alert went directly from orange to red.

Finally, the official recalled that Senasa had carried out an avian fever detection exercise in Santa Fe as a preparation “because it was considered that there are no signs or customs that retain a migratory bird. Unfortunately, the bird flu case arrived in Argentina, started in Jujuy and continued through Córdoba and Salta, and in the last hours we had a case in Villa Cañás, Santa Fe,” he said. he concluded.

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