More than 500 sea lions have been found dead off the coast of southern Brazil, according to a new report by local authorities who have blamed bird flu for the deaths, AFP reports.

“To date, we have counted 552 (dead) marine mammals in various locations along the coast,” Rio Grande do Sul’s state agriculture secretariat said in a statement sent to AFP.

On Friday, the city of Santa Vitoria Palmar in the same state alone revealed that it had found the remains of 164 sea lions.

According to Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture, the first outbreak of bird flu among marine mammals was detected in early October at Cassino, another beach in Rio Grande do Sul state.

Most of the dead marine mammals in southern Brazil were found near the border with Uruguay, where authorities in September reported the discovery of nearly 400 sea lion carcasses, the deaths of which were also attributed to bird flu.

However, according to local authorities, “there is no risk to the consumption of poultry meat or eggs” produced in Brazil.

Brazil thus maintains its status as a “disease-free” country, as, according to the government, “no commercial production has been affected so far.”

Although cases of human infection are rare, Brazilian authorities have advised the public to stay away from the remains of marine mammals and to keep their pets away.

Peru, Chile and Argentina have also reported marine fauna deaths linked to the virus, which causes severe muscle, neurological and respiratory damage.