BEIJING, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's southern state of Rio Grande do Sul has confirmed the death of 942 seals and sea lions due to infection with the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, an unprecedented number, Brazil said on Dec. 10.
Silwina Botha, an oceanographer at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, recommends burying or burning the carcasses as soon as possible to reduce the risk of infection in humans or other animals.
Researchers also found some marine mammals twitching at local beaches due to a virus attack on their nervous systems. According to health regulations, the animals will be euthanized or die a "very painful death," Botha said.
On 15 May, Brazil reported the first case of avian influenza in wild birds this year. According to the statement of the Ministry of Agriculture, the team rushed to the scene and took appropriate epidemic prevention measures to prevent an outbreak of avian influenza in poultry farms.
Brazil** declared a 180-day animal health emergency on May 22. However, poultry were infected in June at a farm in the municipality of Serra, Espírito Santo.
At the same time, avian influenza viruses have affected animals such as seabirds, seals and sea lions. Brazilian authorities have collected samples from porpoise and penguin carcasses found on beaches, but the test results have not yet been confirmed.
Reuters quoted Botha as saying that the state of Rio Grande do Sul first confirmed a case of marine mammal deaths linked to the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in September this year, when the animal mortality rate was unusual and attracted the attention of experts. There are currently outbreaks of avian influenza in three towns in the state.
According to Botha, the spread of avian influenza among marine mammals appears to have started in Peru, then in Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and now in Brazil.
For some time now, outbreaks of avian influenza have occurred in many parts of the world, mainly affecting poultry, wild birds and some mammals. Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture has reported 148 outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza, most of which occurred in coastal areas. (Qiao Ying).