#17,394
Just over a week ago Chile's National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (SERNAPESCA) reported more than 2,200 mammals had been found dead along the coast during the first 3 months of 2023, most (if not all) believed due to avian H5N1.
Given Chile's massive 4,000 mile long coastline - with many remote and hard to access places - the true number is likely far higher than has been reported. Additionally many marine mammals will likely have died at sea, out of view.
Yesterday Chile's SERNAPESCA announced another 470 dead marine mammals have been counted, and while only a small percentage are ever tested for the virus, HPAI H5 is believed to be the cause of death for most, if not all.
Additionally, they report that a small cetacean (a spiny porpoise) among the casualties.
In 2021, before HPAI H5 arrived, Chile counted just 129 dead marine mammals. That number jumped to 160 in 2022. Today, over just the first 95 days of 2023, that number stands at 2740 and rising.
The translated statement from SERNAPESCA follows.
Sernapesca reports that marine species affected by avian influenza are expanding: small cetacean tested positive in Atacama
Thursday April 06, 2023
There are already 2,740 specimens of common sea lions, Humboldt penguins, chungungos and 1 porpoise, which have stranded dead on the coasts of our country during the first quarter of 2023, mainly in the north.
The epidemiological situation of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) by H5 subtype of Eurasian lineage has continued to spread. There are 9 regions of the country that have registered marine fauna protected by the Fisheries and Aquaculture Law with positivity for avian influenza, with positive cases from Arica to Biobío.
To date, a total of 32 specimens of marine animals confirmed as HPAI-positive have been counted, corresponding to 2 chungungos, 25 sea lions, 4 Humboldt penguins and 1 spiny porpoise. Regarding this last case, it is a small cetacean that ran aground on March 27 on Las Islas de Atacama beach, and whose sampling result was positive for Avian Influenza, thus expanding to a new marine species affected by this contingency. It is worth mentioning that both in Peru and the United States, positivity had also been registered in small cetaceans.
However, the figures increase considerably if the marine animals stranded dead in these weeks are considered. In total, 1,960 specimens of sea lions, 769 Humboldt penguins, 10 chungungos and 1 porpoise are reported, stranded dead on the country's coasts. The northern macrozone concentrates the highest mortality of these animals, with the region of Arica and Parinacota leading the ranking, followed by Atacama, Antofagasta, Tarapacá and Coquimbo.
“So far this year we have recorded a historic number of dead stranded marine animals, corresponding to 2,740 specimens. The total of these dead stranded animals in 2022 was 160, which shows that we are clearly facing an anomalous situation, registering 1,712% more strandings this year,” said Soledad Tapia, National Director of Sernapesca.
In the context of the Avian Influenza emergency, work has been reinforced with other entities such as the Presidential Delegations, Regional Governments, SAG, Seremías, Municipalities and others, in order to support an active surveillance plan throughout the coastline with the in order to reduce the risks of viral circulation of said disease, through the detection, testing and final disposal of affected animals.
