The Ministry of Health of the country issued an epidemiological alert after the National Service of Health and Agri-food Quality (SENASA) confirmed new cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5 in wild and domestic birds in the province of Buenos Aires (PBA) and in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (CABA). The objective of this communication is to keep health teams informed, strengthen epidemiological surveillance for early identification and follow-up of human contacts, and recall the prevention and control measures for the infection. The ministry also noted that on February 21, SENASA laboratories confirmed the detection of the avian influenza virus in wild birds (hooded gull, coscoroba swan, and black-necked swan) in the Buenos Aires department of General Madariaga. Meanwhile, on February 23, new cases were detected in domestic birds in the town of Ranchos, also in PBA, and on February 25, two more foci were confirmed: one in the town of Lobos and another in Coscoroba Swans in the Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve, located in CABA. SENASA is the body responsible for carrying out the planned actions to prevent the circulation of the virus and coordinating with provincial health authorities. In this context, the Ministry of Health has been working in conjunction with national and jurisdictional animal and health health teams since the first focus was confirmed, to identify exposed cases, conduct the corresponding epidemiological investigation, and implement the necessary control measures. The epidemiological alert issued by the national health ministry reminds the measures that health teams must implement upon confirmation of an avian influenza focus in animals. As a first measure, they must notify the National Health Surveillance System (SNVS 2.0) of all cases of people exposed to sick or dead animals from this disease or to contaminated environments without the proper use of personal protective equipment and monitor them for 10 days for early detection of symptoms compatible with the disease. If symptoms such as cough, sore throat, difficulty breathing, conjunctivitis, with or without fever, are detected within 10 days of exposure, health professionals must indicate antiviral treatment with oseltamivir according to clinical evaluation, immediately nominally report the event as “Suspect of emerging virus” to SNVS 2.0, and perform the necessary laboratory sampling to identify the etiological agent within 4 days of the onset of symptoms. Finally, the epidemiological alert reminds the population that they should avoid contact with sick or dead birds and with surfaces that could be contaminated with saliva, mucus, or feces of wild or domestic birds, and immediately notify SENASA of the presence of sick or dead animals.
