Avian flu: more than 100 birds died but rule out spread to other species

“In this development of the progress of the situation we have had the accounting of something more than 100 dead birds, but all of the same species”, expressed the hierarch in a press conference. Mattos met with his Ambiente partner, Robert Bouvier, and the teams from both portfolios to “analyze and have the most accurate and latest report of all news of this joint operation” against bird flu.

Likewise, the Minister of Livestock emphasized that “no other species has been reported” as infected with the virus, since all the others that were analyzed yielded negative results.

The government detected the first case in a black necked swan in the Garzón lagoon in Maldonado. In response, he declared a health emergency to combat the virus.

Furthermore, Mattos said that avian influenza is “circumscribed to the Garzón lagoon”although it works for prevent birds that may be contaminated from flying over the region of lagoons and “to be able to affect larger surrounding areas”.

In any case, the authorities visited more than 150 properties in “surrounding areas where there are backyard birds and other production animals” and no cases were found.

“It is quite possible that we will have other areas affected once the virus is transmitted through the bird that flies, therefore it is very difficult to contain and that we do not have records in other areas”, warned the Minister of Livestock. However, he stressed that they work with “intensive surveillance from the epidemiological point of view” to prevent it.