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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, April 26th 2024 - 18:56 UTC

Tag: Avian flu

  • Tuesday, February 20th 2024 - 07:18 UTC

    Positive avian flu confirmed in wandering albatross in South Georgia

    Wandering albatross have tested positive for avian flu on Bird Island (Photo: Richard Phillips, BAS)

    Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) continues to affect the wildlife on the sub-antarctic islands of South Georgia. The latest results from samples taken from the islands reveal that the disease has now been detected in the wandering albatross (as at 9 February 2024).

  • Thursday, February 15th 2024 - 10:53 UTC

    Falklands: confirmed case of avian influenza at Stanley Common

    On Monday 12 February 2024 swabs that were taken from a dead hawk found on Stanley Common were tested and returned positive for HPAI.

    The Falkland Islands Natural Resources Department has announced that on Monday 12 February 2024 swabs that were taken from a dead hawk found on Stanley Common were tested and returned positive for HPAI.

  • Tuesday, January 30th 2024 - 10:41 UTC

    Survey in Falklands' small islands shows avian flu is continues to threaten

    Falklands Conservation carried out a surveillance visit in January 2024 and found dead albatross chicks in their thousands as well as low levels of rockhopper and skua mortalities

    Following on the Falkland Islands Natural Resources Department update on confirmed avian influenza (bird flu) case – Steeple Jason Island, northwest of the archipelago, it has been reported that Falklands Conservation carried out a surveillance visit in January 2024 and found dead albatross chicks in their thousands as well as low levels of rockhopper and skua mortalities. A further set of several more swabs were collected.

  • Tuesday, January 23rd 2024 - 11:08 UTC

    Falklands confirms new avian influenza (bird flu) case, gentoo penguins on Sea Lion Island

    Since Monday 30 October 2023, 66 suspect birds/animals have been reported, 40 have been swabbed. Five have returned positive results and 35 negative results. Photo: Nick Warner

    On Thursday 18 January, swabs from 3 dead gentoo penguins from Sea Lion returned positive results for highly pathogenic avian influenza. Several gentoo chicks (20-30) and a few adults (1-4) were observed dead or symptomatic. Given the proximity of the affected colony to the airstrip and residential area of the Island and the density of wildlife in the area, a level 3 response will be followed and the whole of Sea Lion Island is declared an infected place. No persons are permitted to visit Sea Lion Island without authorization from the Director of Natural Resources.

  • Thursday, January 18th 2024 - 10:15 UTC

    HMS Forth helps to understand extent of avian flu in South Georgia

    A seal keeps watch on HMS Forth at Grytviken

    Crew of Royal Navy Falklands patrol ship HMS Forth helped scientists understand the global impact of bird flu as the ship resumed South Atlantic duties after nearly a year away. The ship transported an expert to the island chain of South Georgia to see if the disease had reached the sub-Antarctic for the first time.

  • Friday, November 3rd 2023 - 22:58 UTC

    Confirmed avian flu case in the Falklands; Stanley becomes control zone until November 23

    Members of the public are advised to follow strict bio-security measures and use the footbaths at common sites where they are provided.

    On Monday 30 October 2023 a Southern Fulmar was found dead at a Stanley property. As per current policy, while one dead bird does not reach the threshold of suspicion for avian influenza, birds that are not usually found in the Falkland Islands are routinely swabbed for surveillance. Unfortunately, this bird tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza. Given that this is an isolated case of one bird, that is only common off-shore, a full protection zone will not be declared. However, a temporary control zone has been declared and is attached. A declaration issued by the Falkland Islands Government (FIG) says:

  • Tuesday, October 31st 2023 - 10:55 UTC

    Avian flu keeps killing seashore mammals along South Atlantic shores

    A sea lion, presumably killed by avian flu, lies on the beach at Cabo Polonio, Uruguay. Photo: Sebastián Astorga

    Health authorities in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina are increasingly concerned over the appearance of hundreds of dead sea lions presumably killed by avian flu, it was reported.

  • Tuesday, October 24th 2023 - 08:55 UTC

    BAS reports first confirmed cases of Avian Influenza in South Georgia; Biosecurity Handbook must be handy

    Brown skua (Catharacta antarctica) on Bird Island, South Georgia (Richard Phillips)

    The highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed in brown skua populations on Bird Island, South Georgia – the first known cases in the Antarctic region, reported British Antarctic Survey, BAS.

  • Tuesday, October 3rd 2023 - 20:20 UTC

    Avian flu, France planning to vaccinate some 60 million ducks

    In Europe's only mass-vaccination campaign against avian influenza, the two-jab course is obligatory for ducklings, from as young as 10 days old

    Some 60 million ducks are to be vaccinated in France over the next year as the country embarks on a campaign to combat bird flu and put an end to mass culls, which cost the poultry industry millions every year.

  • Monday, July 31st 2023 - 10:44 UTC

    Avian flu: Contingency protocols activated in Ecuador

    Special teams have been placed under round-the-clock alert while a vaccination plan against the disease was extended

    Ecuadorian authorities have actuated contingency protocols after a new outbreak of avian influenza was confirmed in a commercial farm in the Andean province of Cotopaxi, the Agency for Regulation and Control of Animal and Plant Health (Agrocalidad) announced Sunday in Quito.

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