On Tuesday, several sea lions died because of bird flu in Argentina. The members of the National Food Health and Quality Service have been taking samples from dead sea lions to find the cause and realized it was a global outbreak.
The outbreak seemed to have infected mammals and raised the fear of it being spread to humans easily at this point.
Along the extensive Atlantic coast of Argentina, the health authorities for the animals have reported several sea lions. The stretch south of the Capital Buenos Aires to Santa Cruz near the southern tip of the continent showed several dead animals.
50 More Dead Species of Sea Lions from Bird Flu
According to a Patagonian environmental authority, 50 more dead specimens have been found who contain an infection of avian influenza. 5,000 kilometers of the coastline of Argentina was asked to be avoided by the authorities. The beaches where the dead specimens were found could be dangerous for the masses.
Source: El Pais
The adult male sea lions, who are marine mammals like the seals and walruses, can weigh about 300 kilograms and it is surprising that they are affected by avian influenza at this rate. The seasonal outbreaks of H5N1 bird flu was typical, but since the 2021 cases have been emerging on a year-round basis, it is known as the largest outbreak that has ever been seen.
Earlier this year, in Peru, hundreds of sea lions were found dead due to the outbreak of bird flu. The virus had also ravaged the bird population across South America. Since there is no known treatment for the virus, it can spread freely amongst wild birds and domestic poultry.
There have been rare cases of bird flu infecting humans, which it typically does not do. During this time of the infection season, though, it has infected mammal species, such as farmed minks and cats.
Source: The Strait Times
Since the outbreak spread to the cats and minks, the World Health Organization has warned in July about the virus becoming more adaptable towards infecting humans.
The representative from WHO had said that some mammals could act as the mixing vessels for the virus of bird flu and it could become more harmful to animals and humans.
Argentinian Authorities Say that The Alert Remains in Place
The first 20 sea lions were found dead in early August off of the coast of Tierra del Fuego, which is the southernmost tip of Argentina. 7 of them were infected with the highly pathogenic bird flu or the avian influenza H5N1 virus.Â
After that, the outbreak of the virus could be seen in various parts of the country. The virus was first seen in wild birds in Columbia during the late 2022 and since then, the avian influenza has been spreading to the south of the continent on a rapid basis.Â
Source: A News
The possible risks of the avian influenza virus reaching Antarctica is being studied by the scientists. The authorities who have checked on the latest positive cases of the death of the Argentinian sea lions have kept the warning that the alerts remained in place.
The samples from dead mammals from the cities of Claromeco and San Blas from the province of Buenos Aires and from San Antonio Este city from the province of Rio Negro. Other such cases of bird flu or avian influenza was found in the beaches and the protected areas in Rio Negro, Tierra del Fuego, Chubut, and Buenos Aires.
Source: Archyde
A biologist and researcher at CONICET, Pablo Plaza, had said in an interview about the outbreak of bird flu amongst the sea lions starting at Peru, going to Chile, and reaching Argentina. The virus has worst affected the species of Patagonian sea lions, which is seen as a brown carnivore, weighing up to 800 pounds.Â
The dead sea lions who were suspected to have died from the bird flu virus were buried by the authorities to save any contamination or harm to the other animals and humans.
