In a troubling environmental development, an estimated 400 seals and sea lions have been discovered lifeless along Uruguay’s coastline in recent weeks, with authorities pointing to bird flu as the primary culprit behind this mass mortality event.
The situation has prompted multiple government ministries to closely monitor and respond to the crisis after the initial detection of H5 bird flu in a sea lion on a Montevideo beach, situated at the convergence of the River Plate and the Atlantic Ocean.
The deceased marine animals have been found strewn along the Atlantic coast and along the river’s banks. To mitigate the risk of further virus transmission, approximately 350 of these animals have already been buried.
Carmen Leizagoyen, the head of the fauna department at Uruguay’s environment ministry, expressed concern over the evolving situation, stating, “This is an evolving situation now, and we attribute it to bird flu. The disease cannot be controlled. We have to wait for the immunity of the animals to act, but we do not know when this is going to happen.”
Uruguay is home to an estimated population of 315,000 seals and sea lions, making the situation even more pressing.
Leizagoyen emphasized the importance of public caution, urging beachgoers and residents to refrain from approaching or interacting with the affected animals to avoid the risk of contracting the virus. While human infections with bird flu are relatively rare, they are not unheard of, making vigilance and preventive measures a top priority as authorities work to contain and understand this concerning phenomenon.
