Even the fish caught the flu.

Of the outbreaks confirmed so far in South America, those in Venezuela, Peru, and Chile have claimed only dozens of seabirds as victims—birds found severely ill, dying, or simply dead on the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, respectively.

This situation led, for example, to a temporary drop in sales of fish and shellfish in some coastal towns in southern Peru, as these products were mistakenly perceived as the probable cause of the disease.

Be careful about the first reports.

Misinformation can result from an overload of information—even when well-intentioned but strategically poorly communicated. This was confirmed by Peruvian health authorities, who, following the first confirmed cases, recommended that the public prioritize the consumption of frozen chicken and turkey. People interpreted this to mean that live or freshly slaughtered poultry at wet markets posed a danger to human health, which affected sales of live chickens and turkeys—as well as their fresh meat—which make up the majority of the poultry trade in that country. The Ecuadorians may well have been right when they reported their only outbreak, which occurred at a commercial farm. They did not specify from the outset whether the outbreak involved eggs, chickens, or turkeys, although poultry farmers feel that sales of all these products have declined, nonetheless.

More rain, more puddles, closer

This could be a point in favor of climate change alarmists. The constant rains in northern South America would partly explain why more birds carrying the virus are approaching poultry farms—both backyard flocks and commercial facilities. This was noted by an expert from the ICA (Colombian Agricultural Institute, a health authority), who found wetlands and other flooded areas remarkably close to backyard flocks during his investigations. Wild birds can reach these areas, and if that water is then used to water chickens, hens, and turkeys, or to wash equipment, the result is inevitable. The virus is still viable in non-brackish water with a pH between 5.5 and 8 and temperatures ranging from 17 to 28 degrees Celsius.

“Food security” would not be helping

Whether initiated by the farmers themselves or as part of food security programs promoted by governments or private organizations, backyard poultry farming continues to be the primary means of small-scale protein production, whether for family consumption or the sale of surplus. These activities are almost never carried out in compliance with biosecurity requirements; what matters is supplying chicks or adult birds to more families. Vaccinations are rarely administered, quarantines are not enforced, and distinct species and age groups are mixed in the same space. Fencing or barriers are makeshift or nonexistent. Just for show…

Any wild bird is a potential suspect.

Although the virus reaches the continent from North America after passing through Asia, Europe, and Africa in flocks of hundreds of millions of migratory birds, any wild bird—even the most common and endemic species—can transmit the virus if it has been in contact with an infected bird. The greatest risk occurs during the major migration season, from September to April, but we cannot let our guard down outside this period or with any bird. The virus can spread through the air (aerogenically) up to 1 km. In bird droppings, it survives for four days in the shade at temperatures between 25 and 32 degrees Celsius; on the ground, at 20 degrees Celsius without direct sun exposure, it can survive for up to a week. Then, free-range poultry farms pose a significant risk. Noise is not an effective way to keep wild birds away; decoy falcons might be a practical alternative.

FUENTE: www.catedralatam.com