The detection of
bird flu in Argentina
worries the country's authorities and producers, and much more so now that
the death of more than 20,000 chickens
affected by the virus at a poultry farm in
Mar del Plata
has been confirmed .
The farm is located in the La Polola area, close to Route 88, according to Mar del Plata media such as
0223.com.ar
and
La Capital
.
This was confirmed by sources from the National Agrifood Health and Quality Service (Senasa).
In addition, the veterinarian
Fernando Navarra
, from Avicultores Mar y Sierras (Avimars) declared on
LU6 Radio Atlántica
that it is not a brand from Mar del Plata, but rather "rented the sheds".
"Samples were taken, and even the birds that are alive were sent to Buenos Aires. We are working and doing rakes in the area," said Senasa, who detailed that, in general, when it tests positive, the entire shed must be euthanized , but
in this case they were able to save 20 or 30 birds
.
This week 3 positive cases of avian influenza had been confirmed.
Two of them were birds from commercial farms, one in the province of Buenos Aires and the other in Neuquén, while the rest was a backyard bird in Chaco.
On Tuesday, March 1, the first positive case in poultry was confirmed and Argentina temporarily lost its "bird flu free" status.
To comply with international standards, the country has self-suspended the export of poultry products.
As highlighted by the Government, poultry production for domestic consumption will continue to develop normally "since HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza) is not transmitted by the consumption of chicken meat and eggs."
"There is no plan B"
The representatives of the poultry sector will meet this Thursday with Senasa officials, where they will express their concern about the loss of more than 20,000 chickens in Mar del Plata.
"Plan A is that the flu does not catch us (the birds) but there is no plan B for these situations," they declared, as compiled
by
0223.com.ar.
"The producers are all concerned. Supposedly there will be support from the state to cover the expenses for the animals that you have to sacrifice. If it tests positive, you lose everything: eggs, backyard birds, wild animals, everything," said Santiago Flores, president of Poultry farmers Mar y Sierra (Avimars).
Regarding the case of the deaths at the La Polola farm, the veterinarian Navarro explained that the birds presented acute symptoms and suffered sudden death.
"From what my colleague told me, there was no need to sacrifice because it is an unknown disease to treat, there are no antibodies of any kind," he said.
The man assured that death in birds is something that happens "very quickly" before the appearance of the virus.
“Don't forget that they are in sheds, locked up, and there is very direct contact.
It is transmitted through the mouth, nose and fecal matter ”, she deepened.
DB
look too
Avian flu: confirmed three new positive cases and there are already 39 throughout the country
Three years after the start of the pandemic, they canceled the coronavirus data monitor in Argentina
