Mass Mortality of Sea Lions Caused by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus

• Published in: Emerging infectious diseases Vol. 29; no. 12; pp. 2553 - 2556
• Main Authors: Gamarra-Toledo, Victor, Plaza, Pablo I, Gutierrez, Roberto, Inga-Diaz, Giancarlo, Saravia-Guevara, Patricia, Pereyra-Meza, Oliver, Coronado-Flores, Elver, Calderon-Cerron, Antonio, Quiroz- Jimenez, Gonzalo, Martinez, Paola, Huaman-Mendoza, Deyvis, Nieto-Navarrete, Jose C, Ventura, Sandra, Lambertucci, Sergio A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Atlanta U.S. National Center for Infectious Diseases 01-12-2023; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Subjects: Animals; Argentina; Avian flu; Avian influenza; Avian influenza viruses; Birds; Causes of; Cormorants; Disease transmission; Diseases; Distribution; Encephalitis; Epidemics; Epidemiology; Genetic aspects; H5N1; HPAI; Identification and classification; influenza; Marine mammals; Mortality; Natural resources; Pelicans; Peru; Pneumonia; Research Letter; Sea lions; Statistics; viruses; Wildlife conservation; Wildlife diseases; Peru; Argentina; Chile; United States > US
• ISSN: 1080-6040; 1080-6059
• DOI: 10.3201/eid2912.230192

We report a massive mortality of 5,224 sea lions (Otaria flavescens) in Peru that seemed to be associated with highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection. The transmission pathway may have been through the close contact of sea lions with infected wild birds. We recommend evaluating potential virus transmission among sea lions.