More than 3,000 sea lions have died in Chile from bird flu
- April 20, 2023
- 0
Death sea lions V Chile Because of H5N1 avian influenza increased 6 times in the last 4 weeks due to the fact that the country’s coasts are affected
Death sea lions V Chile Because of H5N1 avian influenza increased 6 times in the last 4 weeks due to the fact that the country’s coasts are affected by this disease, which has claimed the lives of more than 4300 animals, including dolphins, porpoises, sea otters and penguins.
According to the latest data from the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapeska) Chile, published this Wednesday, due to the epidemiological situation, about 4 thousand individuals of different species died.
Of these, 3347 are sea lions. The number of these specimens has increased exponentially, with a total of 2,740 deaths recorded on April 6, and 2,270 in the previous week, March 29. This means that more than 600 specimens have died in the last two weeks.
The first case in sea lions was reported just two months ago, on 16 February. Since then, the number of infections has steadily increased. In the last 4 weeks alone, they registered 6 consecutive promotions.
In addition, 958 Humboldt penguins, 16 chungungos, 15 porpoises and 11 Chilean dolphins have died. The total mortality accumulated over the past three months is already 2.4% higher than the number of dead marine animals found on the coast of the country throughout 2022.
Dolphins, also known as bottlenose dolphins, are a protected endemic species, while penguins have been classified as vulnerable according to International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) because its population, which is only 11,000 individuals, is constantly declining.
“In this contingency, we are close to losing 10% of this species, and this certainly worries us,” said Sernapeski national director Soledad Tapia.
Added to this are 35 living marine animals suffering from the disease: 2 chungungos, 25 sea lions, 4 Humboldt penguins, 2 crested porpoises and now 2 Chilean dolphins, recently confirmed positive.
The first case of bird flu in Chile was detected last December in the north of the country, and it has since spread to Magallanes, in the far south.
This contagious viral disease affects both domestic and wild birds and has no cure. Less commonly, viruses are isolated from mammals, as well as from people who have been in contact with the remains of infected animals.
March 29 at Ministry of Health Chile confirms first case of bird flu in People V 53 year old man In the north of the country. On this occasion, the state body emphasized that it can be transmitted from birds or marine mammals to people, but cases of infection from person to person are not known.
With this in mind, the Chilean authorities recommend not approaching dead birds and animals or persons suspected of being infected with avian influenza, especially in coastal areas, in order to prevent new human infections.
Source: Aristegui Noticias
As an experienced journalist and author, Mary has been reporting on the latest news and trends for over 5 years. With a passion for uncovering the stories behind the headlines, Mary has earned a reputation as a trusted voice in the world of journalism. Her writing style is insightful, engaging and thought-provoking, as she takes a deep dive into the most pressing issues of our time.
