The situation involving cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in aquatic mammals in Argentina has been resolved, according to a new report from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).
Since August 2023, the country has lost 44 South American fur seals, 2,134 South American sea lions and 2,579 southern elephant seals along Argentina’s Atlantic coast, even though not all animals were tested.
“After the first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in marine mammals was detected, suspicions and mortalities continued to be treated throughout the Atlantic coast of Argentina. For operational reasons, once the presence of the virus was confirmed in an area, subsequent cases were considered positive outbreaks with compatible clinical symptoms and epidemiological link, not having been sampled in all events and being reported in a grouped manner. However, to corroborate that viral circulation was still present, active surveillance continued with sampling in certain affected areas, as described in the corresponding descriptions,” the WOAH report stated.
No new cases of HPAI have been reported by WOAH in these mammals since 2023.
Argentina also HPAI-free in poultry, wild birds
The report concerning HPAI in mammals in Argentina follows another report from WOAH issued on August 6 that stated the situation with H5N1 HPAI in wild birds in the country had been resolved.
“To date, Argentina has no HPAI outbreaks and maintains active and passive surveillance activities throughout the national territory,” the August 6 report stated.
In September 2023, the H5N1 HPAI situation in Argentinian poultry was deemed resolved. Between February 2023 and April 2023, the country had lost more than 2.2 million head of poultry. Infected operations included 13 layer farms, three breeder farms and two broiler farms.
View our continuing coverage of the global avian influenza situation.
