Coordination with hunters to report diseases in wild birds in Argentina

Buenos Aires - The National Service for Agrifood Health and Quality (Senasa) through the General Coordination of Epidemiology and the Coordination of Wild Fauna, held a meeting with duck hunters from the Argentine Confederation of Hunting Entities (CONAECI) seeking to draw lines of joint action for early warning of deaths of wild birds. During the meeting, mechanisms were established to coordinate hunting activities with the taking of samples and communication to the local veterinarian for subsequent referral to the Senasa laboratory and notification channels for suspected diseases such as avian influenza. There are numerous diseases that affect wild animals and that have an impact on livestock production, animal health, public health and biodiversity conservation. Only by working together can proper management be achieved to reduce its negative consequences. Senasa contacted CONAECI with the aim of continuing to add hunters to the monitoring systems for wild species that are ...