They are analyzing a suspected case of avian flu in Jujuy and the government will announce preventive measures

He National Service for Health and Food Quality (Senasa) analyzes whether a bird found in a rural area of Jujuy has been infected with the virus H5N1, known as Avian Flu. Sources from the official agency have acknowledged that they are investigating the suspected case through “laboratory work with the samples”, after which the results will be released.

For its part, the Ministry of Health and the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, in collaboration with INTA, have called a press conference this afternoon to report on avian flu prevention measures and explain the device arranged.

As stated in Jujuy, the suspected case is a bigua which was found in a campaign away from urban centers.

Bolivia, bordering this province, is one of the countries in the region where cases of bird flu have been observed in poultry.

Bird flu or bird flu (also known as chicken flu) is a disease caused by certain types of viruses that normally infect wild birds and poultry, such as chickens. In 2022, outbreaks in birds were reported mainly in the European and American Regions.

Waterfowl and shorebirds are considered natural reservoirs of these viruses and generally do not fall ill, although this seems to be changing since deaths from these species have been detected linked to the presence of the H5N1 virus, which is the highly pathogenic variant of the avian influenza virus. Avian flu mainly affects birds, but can be transmitted to poultry workers or to others who come into contact with infected birds or contaminated surfaces.

Argentina has not confirmed so far cases of bird flu in animals or people, but there are outbreaks of infection in Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Venezuela and recently it has been detected in Bolivia and Uruguay. Given the risk of the virus being introduced, Senasa last year declared a state of “preventive health alert” across the country.

The measure was taken to prevent the entry of highly pathogenic avian influenza into the country, as stated in Senasa resolution 803/2022. In this context, the organization arranged to strengthen its preventive actions in the jurisdictions of its regional centers NOA Norte, which includes the provinces of Salta and Jujuy, as well as Chaco-Formosa.

Senasa clarified that, given the cases of AI (bird flu) recorded in North America and due to the migratory route of wild birds towards the south, he ordered the health alert in december 2022, per Resolution 803 and maintains surveillance actions to prevent AI entry into the Argentina, which is recognized as a free country and, in the event of a potential detection, act quickly with mitigation measures that prevent its dispersal in the country. Links and collaboration with National Parks and the Wildlife Department for the permanent monitoring of wild birds have also been strengthened.

The Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries of Uruguay confirmed this Wednesday the first case of bird flu in this country in a wild bird found in the department of Rocha.

Bolivia reported two outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza in late January, the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) reported. An outbreak was discovered in a laying hen farm with 35,000 aves and the other in a barnyard with 202 birds for domestic consumption, including ducks, geese and chickens. The National Agricultural Health and Food Security Service (Senasag) of this country immediately declared a health emergency in the department of Cochabamba after detecting high mortality in egg-laying birds and backyard birds.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), when birds become infected, poultry producers and their employees, poultry processing plant technicians, housekeeping staff and poultry production establishments, as well as workers responsible for epidemic control and eradication are at higher risk of contracting the virus.

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