In the Antarctica The alarms went off when the virus was detected for the first time. H5N1 bird flu in penguins and cormorants, generating great concern, especially for species that are in danger of extinction.
Following an expedition carried out by the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH) at the end of last year and beginning of 2024, 9 positive cases were detected in Adelie penguin and one in Antarctic cormorant. In this way he confirmed it to Reuters the researcher Fabiola Leonfrom Pontifical Catholic University of Chileregarding the monitoring carried out on various species of Antarctic seabirds.
Last February, concern grew following the death of sea birds skúasalso called skuas, as a consequence of the virus, according to a report by the Spanish Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC)which “identified the positivity of the pathogenic strain” near the Primavera Antarctic base, Argentina. The devastating results add to the already 200 species affected throughout the world, a situation that scientists declare panzootic because it is a large-scale avian influenza pandemic.
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“There is a very worrying risk” by species in danger of extinction and by the “high dispersive capacity” of migratory birds in the changes of season that have already spread the virus in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America and South America. Added to this is the large multitude of reproductive colonies of penguins, said the researcher.
As he Adelie Penguin like the Eemperor They are some of the bird species that keep scientists and animal protection organizations on alert, due to the danger of extinction in which they are found, like other animals of different species.
What is the severity of the disease
The avian influenza It is a viral disease that mainly affects birds and is usually found in them naturally on a low pathogenic scale.
However, from the strains H5 and H7 The disease is aggravated since these are highly pathogenic levels that can cause death if they escape into wild bird populations.
The current outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 began in 2022 and has since caused the death of a large number of seabirds in the northern hemisphere, the south of Africa and around the oceans Atlantic and Pacific and in all South America.
For this reason, the discovery made by Millennium Biodiversity Institute of Antarctic Ecosystems y Subantarctics of Chilein collaboration with the French company PONANT and with the participation of an international research team, keeps scientists on alert.
SA / Gi