Bird flu spreads in Chile and kills almost 9 thousand marine animals

Data from the National Fisheries Service (Sernapesca), released this Thursday (25), show that the disease – which managed to transmit to marine mammals – is present in 12 of the 16 regions of the country.

The last species affected is the huillín, a type of otter that is also a marine mammal, which stranded in the Magallanes region, the southernmost region of the country.

“When a new species and region are confirmed, active coastal surveillance protocols are activated, coordinating the burial of stranded animals with the responsible authorities, thus seeking to prevent the spread of the virus”, stated the acting national director of Sernapesca, Esteban Donoso.

So far, in total, “7.654 specimens of sea lions, 1.186 Humboldt penguins, 25 sea otters, 19 porpoises, 12 Chilean dolphins and 1 Huillín stranded dead on the country's coasts have been recorded,” reported Sernageomín in an announcement.

The northern coasts of the country are the most affected. Last weekend, on the beaches of the Chañaral region, more than 227 sea lions and 45 Humboldt penguins were found dead.

At the end of March, Chile reported the first case of bird flu infection in humans: a 53-year-old man who had a “severe” case of influenza.

According to Chilean health authorities, there is no person-to-person transmission. Humans contract bird flu only through contact with sick animals.

The country has also detected the virus in wild birds.

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