Patricia Valenzuela, vice president of the Venezuelan Society of Infectious Diseases, recommended that the population not approach dead birds due to a possible outbreak of bird flu, after the alert issued by PAHO to increase epidemiological surveillance after finding a group of pelicans infected with that disease
The vice president of the Venezuelan Society of Infectious Diseases, Patricia Valenzuela, warned the population this Friday, February 16, to be alert to any strange behavior in birds, whether free-range or wild, due to the outbreak of avian flu that is affecting the population. of that kind.
In an interview granted to Circuit HitsValenzuela recalled that last November an alert was issued in the country for bird flu because pelicans were found on the Venezuelan coast infected with the virus, for which reason he recommended that citizens not approach it if they see dead birds.
Rather, he indicated, that it is best to call the authorities so that they come with the corresponding team and take them away so that they can take samples and do analyzes that help to take better measures.
He also asked those owners of poultry farms to provide protection to employees who are in constant contact with birds, as well as monitor the poultry population in those facilities to see their health status because avian flu spreads from bird to bird. bird quickly.
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Dr. Valenzuela said that the alarm on the part of the Pan American Health Organization is due to the fact that it is the first time in South America that this virus has been detected in a large group of pelicans and that there have already been two cases of bird flu in humans: one in the United States and another in Ecuador, this one in January 2023.
Although he explained that contagion between birds and humans is not as effective, it can occur with those who are in permanent contact with them. But he said that bird flu has been detected in mammals such as sea lions, leading health authorities to ask countries to improve epidemiological surveillance and avoid contagion from humans.
He explained that some symptoms of bird flu are fever, malaise, sore throat and cough, which can easily be confused with another common pathology, but it brings respiratory complications that can lead to pneumonia and respiratory failure; that must be treated in intensive care due to their rapid action.
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