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By Natalia A. Ramos Miranda and Jorge Vega
SANTIAGO (Reuters) – Scientists in Antarctica are warning of the unfold of lethal H5N1 avian flu virus after the illness was first confirmed on the frozen continent’s mainland final month and has since been detected in native penguin and cormorant populations.
The unfold of the virus, which has decimated chook populations worldwide and hit South American wild chook and marine mammal populations onerous, has raised alarm concerning the potential affect on Antarctica’s big penguin colonies.
“We are talking about a very worrying risk,” mentioned researcher Fabiola Leon from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile who was a part of an expedition in late 2023 and early 2024 to observe for chook flu in Antarctica.
“There are species in danger of extinction, such as emperor penguins and other birds.”
The Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH), which organized the expedition, introduced this week it had detected the brand new constructive chook flu circumstances within the area, which it mentioned was a “landmark” discover as a result of it included circumstances in penguins.
The constructive circumstances included 9 Adelie penguins and one Antarctic cormorant, Leon added. The virus was first present in skua seabirds on the Antarctic mainland final month.
“This detection of highly pathogenic influenza H5N1 is for the first time reported for Antarctic penguins and cormorants,” Leon mentioned, warning that the crowded nature of penguin colonies and migratory actions might exacerbate the virus’ unfold.
“This may promote, increase the rate of transmission of the disease among various bird colonies.”
(Reporting by Reuters TV and by Natalia A. Ramos Miranda in Santiago; Editing by Adam Jourdan and Nia Williams)
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