Re: Peru Pelican Mass Die-Off To Be Investigated
http://elcomercio.pe/peru/1409691/n...mina-tipo-virus-que-mata-delfines-pelicanos_1
Spanish-English translation
Imarpe not yet determined the type of virus that kills dolphins and pelicans
The scientific director of the institution indicates that further tests are needed to determine the cause of mass deaths
Thursday May 3, 2012 - 8:38 a.m. 10 comments
(Photo: Wilfredo Sandoval)
LUIS ZAPATA Puell / Wilfredo Sandoval BAYONNE
The Peruvian Sea Institute ( IMARPE ) still can not determine the type of virus that has killed hundreds of dolphins, pelicans and boobies have appeared in recent months stranded on the beaches of the north. After repeat testing, it was concluded that it was the morbillivirus, as suspected. Therefore, the scientific director IMARPE, Raul Castillo Rojas, announced in dialogue with RPP, which will require further analysis to find the cause of mass deaths.
Castillo said the first analysis were performed by specialists from universities and San Marcos Cayetano Heredia, and the Institute of Fisheries Technology. The results showed that the animals suffered from lymphoid depletion, ie, had low defenses, so that they could not move or eat properly.
The scientific director said Imarpe not launch any kind of ban on fish consumption, as it has been determined that the birds did not eat fish, so it is ruled out poisoning.
FREEDOM ALERT
In the presence of dead birds on the coast of the provinces of Trujillo , Viru and Ascope, the manager of Health Freedom , Henry Rebaza Iparraguirre, recommended that bathers in these areas to avoid entering the sea. Also asked not to eat raw sea animals and avoid contact with dead birds until after the health alert.
Rebaza explained that the recommendation is made as a precautionary measure and not to alarm the people. "If there is a virus in the sea or the fish that is killing birds, it is better that people avoid contact" he said.
He added that specialists continue to work with the National Service of Agrarian Health (SENASA), IMARPE and the Ministry of Health through the Directorate General of Environmental Health (Digesa) to identify the cause of the deaths of dozens of pelicans and boobies in the last days.
The Police Chief Trujillo Tourism, Major Pedro Tunj?n reported that so far have found 76 dead birds on the coast of Viru and Ascope Trujillo, 20 more than those recorded on Tuesday, and four sea lions.
"We have found 10 dead birds on the beach in Salaverry, 18 in Puerto Malabrigo, 50 in Santiago de Cao, 10 in Puerto Mori. In the latter beach has also been reported the deaths of four sea lions, "he said.
COUNTING LAMBAYEQUE
wildlife specialists from the Technical Administration of Forestry and Wildlife, and Imarpe prosecution yesterday toured various beaches of Lambayeque to capture live specimens of pelicans and boobies. These animals will be analyzed in three laboratories of Chiclayo in order to know the causes of death of seabirds.
Local authorities were surprised when visiting the beaches of Santa Rosa, Pimentel, San Jose and Puerto Eten, for in a distance of four kilometers from Puerto Eten and the mouth of the river Reque found over 500 dead boobies and pelicans.
William Baigorrea, Head of Wildlife Management and Wildlife Lambayeque, described the incident as a major ecological disaster.
Baigorrea ordered the remains of ten copies of pelicans and boobies are sent for analysis to laboratories of the Faculty of Biology at the Universidad Nacional Pedro Ruiz Gallo, as well as the Regional Health Management and National Service of Agrarian Health.
The head of the Technical Administration of Forestry and Wildlife Lambayeque (ATFFS), Jose Delgado Castro estimated that in the last 12 days have killed more than 1,500 pelicans and boobies along 160 kilometers of coastline between the town of Punta Negra (Piura) and San Jos? (Lambayeque).
Yesterday's diligence was performed with the support of the owner of the First Prosecution of Crime Prevention of the city of Chiclayo, Lev Castro.
Unlike what health authorities have recommended La Libertad, Lambayeque those have not released the recommendation to avoid eating fish.
However, they suggested to take precautions when visiting the beaches, especially the La Bocana, which is flooded by thousands of tons of brush and debris carried by the river Reque.
VIEWPOINT
protect human health
since January this year the northern coast of the country has been invaded by hundreds of animals died from causes still unknown, but preliminary indications suggest that it would be natural causes.
Being a virus, there is little we can do to prevent mass death, but authorities must prioritize human health and the safety of the residents, and have done little or nothing for it since the beginning of this problem.
For example, there are reports of people who have been dolphins killed for consumption, thus putting their lives at risk.
Globally it is known that all cetaceans are highly contaminated, as they are exposed to toxic waste and hydrocarbons. So in any country the remains of dead animals in these circumstances should be treated as toxic waste.
However, in this case, the authorities have not shown any concern or care for healing. Even when picking up the remains, the staff was not prepared because it did not have the proper uniform or wearing gloves or mask.
It is also unfortunate that, although this issue is known since the first remains were found in January, the authorities just try a solution at this time of year when the press has mobilized together with the mass deaths.
Reduce the number of deaths is almost impossible, and to determine the cause will be necessary to resort to foreign laboratories in the country because there is still the ability to analyze these issues.
We may presume that this is a mutated virus. Viruses are abundant in nature and it is impossible to exterminate them. The fact is that by attacking animals, the first to die are the weakest.
This weakness is due to the damage to their immune system when exposed to contamination. Having a weakened immune system, susceptibility of animals to viruses and infections is higher, so when a virus loose in strong, raising the death rate of the species.
