Avian Influenza Decimates Seal and Sea Lion Populations in Brazil

Bird flu, also known as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, has caused the deaths of nearly 1,000 seals and sea lions in Brazil's southern state of Rio Grande do Sul. The virus has also affected other animal populations, including seabirds, porpoises, and penguins. Brazilian officials have declared a health emergency and implemented preventive measures to avoid an outbreak on poultry farms, which could lead to a ban on poultry exports. The spread of the disease among sea mammals is believed to have started in Peru and has reached other South American countries such as Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay.