:quality(85)//cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/infobae/VUJKXJYMGRGKHMXFN6WVSW6GOA.jpg "Avian flu: why restricting the sale of live wild birds could slow the transmission of the virus 1")
8 days ago it was detected in Argentina the first case of bird flu in a wild bird of Jujuy. Today there are already 11 confirmed cases and, faced with this scenario, to avoid an increase in infectious cases in birds intended for trade, the national government has published in the Official Gazette a series of “extraordinary measuresdesigned to prevent the spread of the virus throughout the country.
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He National Health and Food Quality Service (Senasa) confirmed yesterday that there were already 11 cases detected. With this notification and with the signature of Diana Guillén, President of the National Service for Health and Agrifood Quality (Senasa), Resolution 166/2023 was published in the Official Bulletin which establishes restrictions related to the domestic, ornamental and wild birds.
Article 1 specifies that throughout the country “there are exceptional sanitary measures before the declaration of a health emergency by highly pathogenic avian influenza (PIAI) in the Argentine Republic”. Senasa sources confirmed today GlobeLiveMedia the following measures reported yesterday:
– Prohibition of distribution or sale of live birds in fodder, agricultural or veterinary. This restriction does not include commercial birds or their products..
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– Movement Prohibition farmyard, ornamental and sport birds.
– Prohibition of exhibitions, fairs, events and recreational activities involving the concentration and movement of domestic, ornamental and wild birds for any reason.
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And they affirmed that the objective of these measures is that “the country remains free from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)”.
They also clarified that the measure involves:
– In the absence of health documentation covering the movement of live birds for any reason and/or purpose whatsoever, their intervention will be carried out in accordance with the regulations in force. As such, in the event of an irregularity, it may be confiscated.
– Extraordinary measures are established to authorize the entry of avian genetics into the country, as well as their transfer within the territory, regardless of the sanitary situation of the country of export.
– Upon notification of birds showing symptoms compatible with HPAI in protected areas, the necessary sanitary measures will be put in place to minimize the spread of the disease. Among the measures to be adopted is the limitation of public access.
– Provincial wildlife authorities will be asked to arbitrate the means necessary to reduce the spread of the HPAI virus by wildlife, by limiting activities that promote bird dispersal and contact between wild birds and humans, such as chase.
The measures put in place by Senasa aim limit the movement of birds of farmyard, ornamental and sports in the countrysideto prevent potentially infected birds from spreading the virus when moved.
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.
Due to the resilient nature of the AI virus in the environment, including its ability to survive for long periods of time at very low temperatures, they can also be transported in material and spread easily from one establishment to another.
Avian influenza (AI) is a highly contagious viral disease that affects both domestic and wild birds. Although less commonly, avian influenza viruses have also been isolated from mammalian species, as well as humans. This complex disease is caused by viruses divided into several subtypes (i.e. H5N1, H5N3, H5N8, etc.), whose genetic characteristics change very rapidly. The disease occurs worldwide, but the different subtypes are more common in certain regions.
As the Argentine Ministry of Health indicates, for the moment “the disease is not transmitted to people through the consumption of poultry meat and its by-products. There is therefore no danger in consuming these foods. The risk of transmission to humans is low and can occur when secretions or feces of infected birds are inhaled by people or if the virus comes into contact with the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose or eyes.
The H5N1 viruses currently circulating in wild birds and causing outbreaks in poultry are well adapted to spread among birds. However, these H5N1 avian influenza viruses lack the ability to readily bind to human upper respiratory tract receptorsnor to be transmitted between people, they explained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States.
Although the risk of transmission is considered low low, people considered exposed 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 WHO notes that “although person-to-person transmission of avian influenza is thought to have occurred in some cases during close or prolonged contact with a patient, No sustained person-to-person transmission has been identified to date.. From 2003 to 2022 (19 years), 868 cases of avian influenza in humans have been reported worldwide.
The National Ministry of Health has developed a series of recommendations for the general population to prevent the spread of the virus.
1. Wash hands frequently with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizers
2. Avoid direct contact with wild birds and, if possible, observe them only from a distance.
3. Avoid unprotected contact with poultry that appears sick or dead.
4. With regard to birds in large cities (sparrows, pigeons), the risk is considered to be very low since these birds have not shown themselves to be very susceptible to the virus to date.
5. In case of discovery of a sick or dead bird, avoid all contact and inform the health authorities of the National Service of Health and Food Quality (SENASA).
6. Do not touch surfaces that may be contaminated with saliva, mucus, or faeces from wild birds or poultry.
7. Currently, there are no restrictions on travel to areas affected by bird flu. However, people traveling to areas with avian flu epidemics are recommended to take the necessary preventive measures to avoid the risk of contracting the disease.
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