https://sputniknews.in/20231025/deadly-bird-flu-detected-in-antarctica-scientists-5056877.html
Deadly Bird Flu Detected In Antarctica: Scientists
Deadly Bird Flu Detected In Antarctica: Scientists
Sputnik India
In 1996, the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1 virus) first emerged in domestic waterfowl in Southern China. Since then there have been frequent bird flu outbreaks.
2023-10-25T16:43+0530
2023-10-25T16:43+0530
2023-10-25T16:43+0530
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Highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1 virus) first appeared in domestic waterfowl in southern China in 1996. Since then, there have been frequent outbreaks of avian influenza.This poses a significant threat to penguins and other species in the Antarctic region, which is an important breeding ground for many birds.The incident came to light after the death of several brown skua seabirds on Bird Island in South Georgia which is a part of the British Overseas Territory of South America's tip and north of Antarctica's main landmass.The UK's Polar Research Institute said in the media statement that scientists from the British Antarctic Survey took samples from the dead brown skua seabirds and the tests for HPAI came back positive.It is believed that the virus was carried by migratory birds originating from South America, an area greatly impacted by episodes of bird flu.The statement said that visitors to South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands are currently subject to heightened biosecurity measures.Moreover, all scientific fieldwork relating to birds in the area has been put to a halt.Since mid-2021, much larger outbreaks started to spread southward to previously untouched areas including South America, leading to mass deaths among wild birds and tens of millions of poultry being culled.Calling it "devastating news", Michelle Wille, a bird flu expert at the University of Melbourne, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the spread of bird flu to the Antarctic region could change rapidly.Ian Brown, virology head at the UK's Animal and Plant Health Agency, told the media that the migrating birds could spread the virus from South America to the Antarctic islands and then onto the main landmass.Birds like penguins, which have never encountered the virus before, would lack immunity, putting them at a higher risk, Brown said.Meanwhile, the Animal and Plant Health Agency said last week that preliminary research had confirmed that populations of two seabirds - the northern gannet and the shag - have shown immunity to bird flu.There is growing concern that the virus could mutate into a more transmissible form among humans, as it continues to be detected in more and more mammals.In Cambodia, the death of a two-year-old girl from bird flu is the third recorded death from the virus this year.Follow Sputnik India on Google News!
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scientists, bird flu, antarctica, first-ever outbreak, highly pathogenic avian influenza (hpai), bird flu virus, penguins breeding ground, brown skua seabirds, bird island, south georgia, british overseas territory of south america, uk's polar research institute, british antarctic survey, migratory birds, south america, south georgia, south sandwich islands, mass deaths, wild birds, poultry, culled, michelle wille, a bird flu expert, university of melbourne, ian brown, virologist, uk's animal and plant health agency, immunity, higher risk, mutate, cambodia,
scientists, bird flu, antarctica, first-ever outbreak, highly pathogenic avian influenza (hpai), bird flu virus, penguins breeding ground, brown skua seabirds, bird island, south georgia, british overseas territory of south america, uk's polar research institute, british antarctic survey, migratory birds, south america, south georgia, south sandwich islands, mass deaths, wild birds, poultry, culled, michelle wille, a bird flu expert, university of melbourne, ian brown, virologist, uk's animal and plant health agency, immunity, higher risk, mutate, cambodia,
Deadly Bird Flu Detected In Antarctica: Scientists
Scientists have raised the alarm over the first-ever outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), also known as bird flu, in Antarctica.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1 virus) first appeared in domestic waterfowl in southern China in 1996. Since then, there have been frequent outbreaks of avian influenza.
This poses a significant threat to penguins and other species in the Antarctic region, which is an important breeding ground for many birds.
The incident came to light after the death of several brown skua seabirds on Bird Island in South Georgia which is a part of the British Overseas Territory of South America's tip and north of Antarctica's main landmass.
The UK's Polar Research Institute said in the media statement that scientists from the British Antarctic Survey took samples from the dead brown skua seabirds and the tests for HPAI came back positive.
It is believed that the
virus was carried by migratory birds originating from South America, an area greatly impacted by episodes of
bird flu.The statement said that visitors to South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands are currently subject to heightened biosecurity measures.
Moreover, all scientific fieldwork relating to birds in the area has been put to a halt.
Since mid-2021, much larger outbreaks started to spread southward to previously untouched areas including South America, leading to
mass deaths among wild birds and tens of millions of
poultry being culled.Calling it "devastating news", Michelle Wille, a bird flu expert at the University of Melbourne, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the spread of bird flu to the Antarctic region could change rapidly.
Ian Brown, virology head at the UK's Animal and Plant Health Agency, told the media that the migrating birds could spread the virus from South America to the Antarctic islands and then onto the main landmass.
Birds like penguins, which have never encountered the virus before, would lack immunity, putting them at a higher risk, Brown said.
Meanwhile, the Animal and Plant Health Agency said last week that preliminary research had confirmed that populations of two seabirds - the northern gannet and the shag - have shown immunity to bird flu.
There is growing concern that the virus could mutate into a more transmissible form among humans, as it continues to be detected in more and more mammals.
In Cambodia, the death of a two-year-old girl from bird flu is the third recorded death from the virus this year.
