Bird Flu Virus Mutates, Kills Hundreds of Sea Lions in Argentina, Health Authority Calls Event ‘Unusual’

Sea lions in the hundreds washed up on Argentina's shores, and local authorities are suspecting that a potential bird flu outbreak is behind the mass deaths of the marine mammals, according to reports. The World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) is calling the event "unusual" since sea lions are not the typical host of the bird flu virus.

Due to the sea lion deaths, Argentinian authorities have closed off beaches to prevent people from having contact with the infected mammals.

Argentina Bird Flu Outbreak

Officials say a bird flu outbreak in Argentina was responsible for the deaths of the animals, saying the disease mutated and was passed to the mammals. The WOAH also confirmed that at least 57 sea lions were found dead on the Atlantic coast of Argentina. The source of the infection in the said area reportedly remains unclear currently.

Different species of sea lions can be found in different parts of Earth. In North America and Central America, the California sea lion can be found from southern Alaska all the way to Mexico and the Gulf of California, according to the website AZ Animals.

Meanwhile, the South American sea lion, also called the Patagonian sea lion, can be found along the coasts of South America, primarily in Argentina, Chile, and Peru.

Bird Flu Origin

Although sea lions are carnivores that feast on various animals, ranging from fish, to squid, and octopus. However, experts are suspected that Argentina sea lions contracted the avian influenza virus from sick wild birds, the original animal group that the disease has infected since its discovery over the past several decades. In 1996, the bird flu virus, also called influenza A or H5N1, was isolated from a goose in China, with first human infections being reported in Hong Kong back in 1997.

Since then, there have been several bird flu outbreaks in the 21^st century. However, the latest outbreak saw the deaths of millions of wild birds, as well as domesticated birds in the poultry industry around the world, including in the United States and Europe. Furthermore, there is a growing concern among scientists and health authorities globally as the 'bird-borne virus' have reportedly mutated and learned how to infected mammals.

Can Humans Get Bird Flu?

As mentioned earlier, birds or avians were the primary hosts of the bird flu virus. However, there have been recorded cases in the past of human infections as well.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the bird flu virus, by nature, does not infect humans, yet sporadic human infections with the pathogen have occurred. Since December 2021, 11 H5N1 cases involving humans have been recorded globally.

Since 2003, over 20 countries have reported of incurring more than 860 human infections to the World Health Organization (WHO), the CDC adds. In humans, the common bird flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, and shortness of breath.