The state of Rio de Janeiro has registered the 3rd case of a migratory wild bird contaminated with avian influenza (H5N1), the so-called bird flu.
The government informed on Saturday (27) evening that the Cabot’s-tern (Thalasseus acuflavidus) was found on Ilha do Governador, the north zone of the capital of Rio de Janeiro.
According to the communiqué, the LFDA-SP (Federal Laboratory of Agricultural Defense) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock analyzed the bird’s material collected by a specialized professional on Tuesday (23).
The state government added that the Cievs (Center for Strategic Information in Health Surveillance) of the State and Municipal Health Secretariats of Rio de Janeiro is monitoring the three people involved in collecting the animal.
“So far, none of them has flu symptoms and, therefore, no samples were taken for examination,” said the statement.
Also, in May, two other wild birds of the same species were identified with the H5N1 virus.
“They were found in São João da Barra, in the North Fluminense region, and Cabo Frio, in the Lakes region,” said the state government.
According to authorities, the monitoring and prevention actions to avoid the spread of the virus in the state were intensified.
Seappa (Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Fishing, and Supply) released “the Contingency Plan that establishes control measures to detect and contain the spread of Avian Influenza in domestic, wild and exotic birds”.
Moreover, because it is a zoonosis with pandemic potential, the document establishes information flow among the agencies involved.
“The Secretariats of Health and Agriculture have instituted a communication flow to report any mortality of suspected birds, as well as people with suspected influenza syndrome with a history of contact with suspected birds,” it said in a statement.
According to the SES and Seappa technicians, there are no reasons for the population to worry about the H5N1 epidemic because, at the moment, there is no direct transmission from person to person.
The technicians also emphasized that consuming poultry meat or eggs does not transmit the disease.
“The human infections by the Avian Influenza virus occur through direct contact with infected birds (live or dead),” they informed.
PREVENTION
Also, in the statement, the Government of Rio de Janeiro recalled that last Monday (May 22), the Ministry of Agriculture decreed a zoo-sanitary emergency in the country.
The intention is to prevent the disease from reaching subsistence and commercial poultry production and preserve wildlife and human health.
The SES-RJ has oriented the professionals at the health units to be alert, during screening and medical care, to cases of flu syndrome in patients who have had contact with wild animals.
“If there is suspicion, sample collection is recommended, regardless of the day of onset of symptoms, including cases in intensive care units (ICU).”
“Diagnosis by RT-PCR is considered the gold standard method and should always be adopted to obtain laboratory results,” he said.
ALERT
The State Department of Agriculture called attention to the need for the population to avoid direct contact with fallen birds, dead or not, domestic, wild/exotic, migratory birds, and aquatic mammals (any species).
“Any suspicion of a contaminated animal should be reported immediately to the Agricultural Defense Center of the region or the Environmental Surveillance Coordination of your municipality,” he said.
POULTRY FARMERS
To poultry farmers who breed poultry for meat or laying, small-scale and subsistence poultry, the Secretary of Agriculture suggested they intensify biosecurity measures on their farms.
“Care should be taken, such as strictly forbidding any kind of visit to the production units; checking the core fencing and proper shading of the shed; keeping the access gate to the properties closed; disinfecting vehicles and materials that access the farms; taking care with feed and water; keep a record of people and vehicles, among other measures defined in the rules in force,” he said.
With information from Agência Brasil
News Brazil, English news Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, avian influenza
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