RJ confirms 3rd case of avian flu in wild bird – 05/27/2023 – Science

The Government of Rio de Janeiro announced on Saturday night (27) that it received confirmation of the third case of a migratory wild bird infected with avian influenza (H5N1). The Banded Tern (Thalasseus acuflavidus) was captured on Ilha do Governador, in the northern part of the capital of Rio de Janeiro.

After the bird was collected, on the last day 23, it was sent for analysis at the Federal Laboratory of Agricultural Defense (LFDA-SP) of Mapa (Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply).

Three state health surveillance professionals who worked on the collection of the animal are being monitored by the Center for Strategic Information on Health Surveillance (CIEVS) of the State Health Secretariat (SES-RJ) and the Municipal Health Secretariat of Rio de Janeiro. So far, none of them have had flu-like symptoms.

The other two wild birds of the same species identified with the H5N1 virus this month were found in São João da Barra, in the north of the state, and in Cabo Frio, in the Lagos region.

According to a government statement, state authorities have intensified monitoring and prevention actions to prevent the spread of the virus in the state.

“The technicians from SES and Seappa (Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Agribusiness) point out that there is no reason for the population to be concerned about the H5N1 epidemic, as at the moment there is no direct transmission, from person to person. It is important to remember that the disease is not transmitted by the consumption of poultry meat or eggs. Human infections with the Avian Influenza virus occur through direct contact with infected birds (alive or dead)”, says the statement.

On Monday night (22), the Ministry of Health published an ordinance in the Official Gazette of the Union declaring a state of zoosanitary emergency throughout the country, following cases of infection with the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1).

The state of emergency must be in force for a period of 180 days, which may be extended for an indefinite period.

Also on Monday, the Secretariat for Agricultural Defense worked to install the Emergency Operations Center for coordination, planning, evaluation and control of national actions regarding avian influenza. The group will be responsible for coordinating prevention, surveillance and public health care actions.

On Tuesday (23), the Ministry of Health reported that four residents of Espírito Santo are still under suspicion of being contaminated with the avian flu virus (H5N1). The blood samples collected from these people are being analyzed by Fiocruz (Oswaldo Cruz Foundation).

On the other hand, all the other 38 tests carried out (34 in Espírito Santo and four in Rio de Janeiro) in people who had contact with sick birds were negative.