#17,141
Fifteen days ago Peru confirmed the deepest incursion of HPAI H5 into South America to date (see Peru: SENASA Reports HPAI H5 In Pelicans) after several pelicans tested positive on "Los cangrejos" beach in Paita, nearly 1,000 miles south of the two Colombian outbreaks reported in late October.
Five days ago, in Peru: SENASA Issues Health Alert Over HPAI H5N1 In Wild Birds, we learned it was estimated that between 3,000 and 5,000 pelicans - recovered from the beaches and natural areas of Piura (bordering Ecuador), Lambayeque, and Lima - had been killed by the virus.
Earlier this week Ecuador filed a report with WOAH WAHIS on their first outbreak of HPAI H5, detected at a commercial layer farm (location not provided), where roughly 50,000 chickens had died, while in Peru a backyard flock of poultry (see below) has tested positive.
National Agrarian Health Service of Peru
SENASA keeps cases of avian influenza in domestic birds under controlPress releaseNovember 29, 2022 - 3:53 p.m
Yesterday Peru's National Forestry and Wildlife Service (Serfor) also published a press release, one which updates the number - and variety - of wild birds killed by HPAI over the past two weeks. And while laboratory test results are still awaited, they are also investigating the suspicious deaths of several Sea Lions.
I'll have more after the break.
National Forest and Wildlife Service
More than 13,000 wild seabirds killed by avian influenza
Press release
- Latest SERFOR report involves several species, including more than ten thousand pelicans.
- Two specialists from Serfor traveled to Piura to take tests on sea lions.
November 29, 2022 - 4:44 pm
The latest official report carried out at the national level by the National Forestry and Wildlife Service (SERFOR) shows more than 13,869 wild seabirds killed by H5N1 avian influenza, in a large part of our coastline, inside and outside of protected areas.Of this number, it has been recorded that 10,257 are Peruvian pelicans, 2,919 are Peruvian boobies, and 614 camanay, among other species.The information was released by SERFOR's specialist in marine fauna, biologist Lady Amaro, who stated that official reports are made through the count that specialists from the Forestry and Wildlife Technical Administrations (ATFFS) and AgroRural have been doing. , deployed throughout the Peruvian coast, mainly in Piura, Lambayeque, Ancash, Ica, Arequipa, Moquegua, Tacna and Lima, all belonging to SERFOR.On the other hand, it was reported that two specialists in marine fauna traveled to the department of Piura, so that they proceed to take laboratory samples from dead sea lions and wild birds in the north of our country, to determine the causes of their death. , that is, if they were infected by the virus.Prevention
Because it is a highly contagious virus, people are advised not to approach seabirds or take them into their homes, in order to avoid spreading the virus, and, above all, infecting poultry or backyard birds.Report these cases to the authorities so that they carry out the collection and care with the necessary biosecurity measures to the National Agrarian Health Service of Peru (Senasa) 946 922 469, or to the National Forestry and Wildlife Service (SERFOR) at the WhatsApp number (947 588 269).
The introduction of HPAI H5 to a new continent provides this avian flu virus with access to millions of immunologically naive wild birds, and to an array of LPAI viruses with which to reassort.
And as we discussed a week ago, HPAI H5 may also spill over into mammalian species with unpredictable results. We've already seen HPAI infect mink, bears, foxes, and other small terrestrial mammals in North America and in Europe, but marine mammals appear to be particularly susceptible.
Sweden: First Known Infection of A Porpoise With Avian H5N1
The spread of HPAI H5 into South America is just the latest `1st' to be racked up by H5 avian flu. Over the past 12 months we've also seen:
- The first human infections (In the U.S., England and Spain)
- Its designation as a zoonotic virus by the CDC and the ECDC
- Its crossing of both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to North America via migratory birds
- Its first detection in the Arctic (see HPAI Detected In Arctic (Svalbard) For the First Time)
- Its unusual persistence over the summer months (see Ain't No Cure For the Summer Bird Flu)
While previous incarnations of HPAI H5N1 have loomed large before - only to lose steam and recede - past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Clade 2.3.4.4b continues to evolve, and has become more widespread - and better adapted to year-round persistence (see Study: Global Dissemination of Avian H5N1 Clade 2.3.4.4b Viruses and Biologic Analysis Of Chinese Variants) - making it a more pervasive threat than we've seen previously.
How this plays out is anyone's guess. But we need to be prepared to deal with new challenges ahead.
