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Chile: SERNAPESCA Announces Avian H5N1 Infection of a Sea Lion
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Recent reports of massive sea lion deaths in Peru (see SERNANP Reports At Least 585 Sea Lions & 50,000 birds killed by Avian Flu) and seal deaths in other parts of the world (see here, here, and possibly here), due to H5N1 avian flu infection have raised concerns that the virus is better adapting to mammalian hosts.
Potentially raising the stakes, a recent study (see First Mass Mortality of Marine Mammals Caused by Highly Pathogenic Influenza Virus (H5N1) in South America) could not rule out mammal-to-mammal spread of the virus.
As the virus - carried by migratory birds - works its way south to Chile, Argentina, and beyond, we continue to watch for further signs of H5N1 spillover into marine mammals. While Peru is the home to roughly 30,000 sea lions, roughly 4 times that many can be found in Chile (cite), while roughly 90,000 reside in Argentina.
Today, SERNAPESCA, Chile's National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service, announced the first laboratory confirmed sea lion H5N1 infection. The report does not indicate when the sea lion was found, or how many other strandings may have occurred, but they are planning to increase active surveillance along the coast.
(translation)
Thursday February 16, 2023
The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service, with the support of the Agricultural and Livestock Service, initiates a plan to increase active surveillance on the coasts of our country and strengthen biosecurity measures.
The National Director of Sernapesca, Soledad Tapia Almonacid, confirmed today the first positive case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), in a common sea lion in Antofagasta, after confirmation by the SAG laboratory, a reference organization for this type of analysis. in the country. The case corresponds to the variant of the virus that has already been detected in wild birds in 11 regions of the country, and that is also present in countries such as Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina, Uruguay, among others.
“We want to inform you that the Agricultural and Livestock Service laboratory has officially notified us of the affectation of a marine mammal by bird flu. This specimen stranded sick on El Huáscar Beach in the Antofagasta region, it is an adult male, approximately 250 kilos, with respiratory problems, for which rigorous examinations were carried out, from whose analyzes could verify its positivity to avian influenza”, said the Director of the inspection body.
Several months ago SAG has reinforced surveillance and activated its alert systems throughout the country since positive cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) were detected in wild birds in the northern hemisphere.
This is the first case of a marine mammal affected by this virus in Chile, before which Sernapesca, the body responsible for hydrobiological fauna, will activate its special protocol for stranding marine animals.
“This is part of a global problem. Both in the United States and in Peru, sea lions affected by avian influenza had already been registered. We also have a case of a penguin affected by this flu in Antofagasta, so we call on the public not to handle marine animals stranded alive or dead, not to feed and keep their distance and immediately inform Sernapesca through the 800 320 032 line." said Soledad Tapia.
Since the beginning of the HPAI Emergency in Chile, the virus has been detected in 21 species of wild aquatic birds, with the pelican being the most affected.
While the causes have not been determined, the SERNAPESCA twitter feed indicates they are investigating other animal strandings in recent days, including numerous penguins and a humpback whale.
