He Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP) confirmed that there are now 11 positive cases of bird flu in sea lions on the coasts of Uruguay, since the first one detected on September 2.
Although there are still not a large number of confirmed cases and since the National Directorate of Aquatic Resources (Dinara) of the MGAP insist that there is still no need to “be alarmed”, since the mortality levels of sea lions due to bird flu are not greater than those of other causes, concern about the advance of H5 influenza continues.
In this scenario, the portfolio agency led by Fernando Mattos confirmed 11 positive cases: one case in Montevideo, Three in Coast CityThree in Punta del Esteone in Arachania and three in Cape Polonio, as reported by Subrayado.
Likewise, the Dinara technical teams toured the Wolf Island and the Cabo Polonio area after reports of mortality of these animals and the presence of symptoms of avian flu. In the first destination, lives the largest colony of these specimens in South America.
Meanwhile, the municipalities of the coastal departments continue to insist on security measures to avoid infections in the human population, such as not approaching live or dead sea lions and not going to beaches with dogs so that pets do not come into contact with animals with symptoms or that have died from the virus.
Concern in the tourism sector
While the government observes with caution and alerts the advance of the bird flu in sea lions in Uruguay, due to the effects that a large outbreak can have on the health situation and the economy of the country: in addition to the possibility of infections in people, as well as in birds – which multiply the circulation of the virus and put the poultry production sector at risk – there is now also the concern for How can avian influenza affect tourism?.
“We are attentive to the issue and with concern,” said the Minister of Tabare Viera Tourism to El Observador, within the framework of the lunch of the Association of Marketing Managers of Uruguay (ADM). The point is that sea lions are part of the tourist attraction of the Uruguayan coasts, so the advance of bird flu in this species can bring complications for tourism, at the doors of a new summer season.
Among businessmen in sectors linked to nautical tourism—and the nautical sector, in general—this situation raises alarm bells, to the point of pointing out that if avian flu spreads in Punta del Este “it is as if another Covid were coming”due to the impact it will have on the activity.
For now, the only measure that has been taken in this regard was the fencing of the Port of Punta del Este to prevent people from approaching the animals, in the presence of confirmed cases in that population of sea lions —without knowing precisely the level of reach of the virus among the specimens.
Source: Ambito
