After France, Brazil has confirmed the presence of bird flu outbreak. Latest reports say that nearly 1,000 sea lions and seals have died due to the fast-spreading pathogenic avian influenza. A Reuters report says that the top officials of the country are rushing to form a strategy to isolate the commercial poultry from the deadly virus. The South American nation confirmed cases of ‘highly pathogenic avian influenza’ for the first time earlier this year.
The Reuters report quoting Rio Grande Federal University’s Oceanographer Silvina Botta says that local authorities are being told to bury carcasses as quickly as possible. Carcasses out in open increase the risk of passing down the deadly virus to the human population as well. There have been reports of scientists discovering some sea mammals convulsing along beaches. This is a clear sign of bird flu virus attacking the nervous system of the animals.
Officials say that the preventive measures that have been in place since the country first detected bird flu back in May have helped the authorities in keeping the poultry farm safe. Any report of infection in commercial poultry flock would be a big trouble for Brazil, which is the number one chicken exporter.
Alongside the confirmed infection among seabirds, seals, and sea lions, officials have gathered samples from deceased porpoises and penguins discovered on beaches. However, the results are still not out yet. Brazil’s Agriculture Ministry has reported 148 cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in the nation, predominantly along the coastline, prompting the declaration of a health emergency to curb the spread of the disease. The authorities emphasize that bird flu is not presently deemed endemic in Brazil. The impact of avian influenza, commonly referred to as bird flu, has resulted in the culling of hundreds of millions of farm animals across Europe and the United States.
