Close to 22,000 seabirds, most of them pelicans, have died of bird flu in Peru, authorities there said on Monday.
An earlier report by the National Forestry and Wildlife Service (Serfor) had stated that more than 16,000 seabirds had died a week ago.
The National Agricultural Health Service (Senasa) issued a 180-day health alert a fortnight ago after confirming three cases of highly contagious H5N1 bird flu in pelicans.
The first outbreak of bird flu in the Americas was reported in Canada last year.
In January, the virus was detected in the US, affecting poultry production.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has expressed concern about the seasonal migration of birds to Central and South America.
