The National Agrifood Health and Quality Service (Senasa) confirmed three new cases of avian influenza (AI) H5 in backyard birds (chickens and other poultry) found dead in the province of Córdoba in the towns of Villa del Rosario, Deheza and Baldisera.
Article continues below
The detections were confirmed February 21 in analyzes carried out by the Senasa National Laboratory in samples taken from chickens and other dead poultry.
In this way, there are 8 confirmed cases in wild and backyard birds to date (5 in Córdoba, 1 in Salta, 1 in Santa Fe and 1 in Jujuy).
Senasa is working in the region where the findings were made, as well as in Jujuy, Salta, and Santa Fe, and in Entre RÃos, on the border with Uruguay, strengthening controls and preventive measures.
Likewise, it urges the productive sector to reinforce the management, hygiene and biosecurity measures of its poultry farms and to immediately notify it of any detection of nervous, digestive or respiratory clinical signs, decrease in egg production, water or food consumption and high mortality in domestic or wild birds.
Also remember to take all preventive measures and not handle the birds when these clinical pictures are detected.
Within the framework of the health emergency due to avian influenza, together with members of the Gendarmerie and the Córdoba Police, vehicles traveling along different routes in the Province were controlled.
On the occasion, peacock feathers that were transported in a private vehicle were seized and subsequently denatured, in a preventive manner. According to statements by the driver of the vehicle, they had been collected in a rural establishment.
Additionally, it was verified that the vehicles that transport live animals and food have supporting documentation.
In addition, agents from the Córdoba Regional Center of Senasa together with personnel from National Parks and the Provincial Environment Secretariat flew over the Mar Chiquita lagoon in search of dead birds or birds with atypical behavior.
These actions were carried out with the collaboration of Aves Argentinas; Hemispheric Network of Reserves for Shorebirds and Nature Argentina and the Group for the Conservation of High Andean Flamingos.
Senasa together with National Parks carried out drone surveys in the lagoon of Pozuelos where the first case in geese was detected.
During the days, February 19 and 20, a rake was carried out at different points of the Los Pozuelos Lagoon along the coast of the lagoon with a DRON from the Calilegua National Park.
This activity is part of the agreed actions, according to the joint work that the institutions have been carrying out and as a result of the confirmation of the first case for Argentina of the “Avian Influenza†virus in the Lagoon.
The points from where the overflights would be made were projected.
Thus, 5 points were established from where the entire perimeter of the Lagoon was accessed. It was possible to carry out the entire west side of the lagoon and on the 20th the east side of it, where no dead birds were recorded or with symptoms compatible with the disease. ■