Argentina and Uruguay declare public health over avian flu

Argentina declared a national health emergency on Wednesday after a case of bird flu was reported in northern Jujuy province, official sources said.

“The confirmation that the virus has entered the country makes us very alert, but does not surprise us,” Argentina’s Agriculture Minister Juan José Bahillo said at a press conference in Buenos Aires.

The official pointed out that the first case of this virus in the country came from a wild bird found in Laguna de Pozuelos, in the northernmost part of Jujuy province.

Read more: Strengthening the fight against bird flu

After discovering this contamination, Bahillo announced that border controls and evacuations within the region are being accelerated, with a special focus on poultry farms.

“We allow ourselves to be optimistic that (the virus) will not invade productive sectors, but that does not mean we are not in control,” he said, stressing the importance of “calm”. Handover.

“You don’t run the risk of contracting the disease through consumption. “We just want to make it clear that improper manipulation or careless attitude can cause people to become infected, but this is an absolutely exceptional situation.”

Uruguay has declared a public health emergency in its territory following the discovery of the first case of highly pathogenic H5 bird flu in the country’s history.

This was reported by the Ministry of Animal Husbandry, Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP) at a press conference chaired by Fernando Mattos, head of this department, assuring that this was “no surprise” and expected.

In this direction, he pointed out that when the epidemiological evolution of the disease is examined, it can be seen that it is present on all continents and that it spreads regionally in the Americas.

On the other hand, he pointed out that this disease poses a “risk” to poultry production and other birds of the native fauna.

He also reported that there have been very few cases of animal-to-human transmission in history, so the likelihood of this happening is “very low.”

“There has to be very close contact between sick birds and humans for this to be transmitted,” Mattos said. “There is no transmission through food. It is completely safe to consume poultry, eggs or other poultry products.

In response to the news, the Department also issued a series of measures, including restricting all movements of backyard birds and birds not controlled by the poultry surveillance system within state borders.

Fairs, auctions, exhibitions and events related to bird species were also suspended.

On February 8, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued an official statement warning that this disease is spreading among mammals in different parts of the world.

Avian influenza mainly affects domestic birds and is divided into 2 subtypes based on two surface proteins and is considered highly deadly according to WHO.

Although it is an animal disease, it can be transmitted to people who come into contact with sick birds.

Source: EFE.

Source: Ultimahora

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