First penguins in Antarctica die from deadly H5N1 bird flu virus, experts sound alarm

Previous outbreaks have shown penguins are highly susceptible to the disease

A king penguin on South Georgia Island in Antarctica died of suspected bird flu. guardian the report said. If confirmed, it would be the first species killed by the highly contagious H5N1 virus in the wild.

Researchers have expressed concern about the potentially devastating impact of the disease on remote penguin populations, stressing that the current breeding season could allow the virus to spread rapidly and cause “one of the greatest ecological disasters in modern times”.

Antarctica is the only major geographical region where highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses have never been detected before. Birds such as penguins that have never been exposed to the virus before will not have prior immunity, which could make them more susceptible to infection.

King penguins are the second largest penguin species in the world, standing approximately 3 feet tall and can live for more than 20 years in the wild. In addition to the king penguin, a gentoo penguin died from the H5N1 virus at the same location. Another gentoo penguin has been confirmed dead from H5N1 on the Falkland Islands, 900 miles (1,500 kilometers) west of South Georgia.

Previous outbreaks in South Africa, Chile and Argentina have shown that penguins are highly susceptible to the disease, which has killed more than 500,000 seabirds in South America, including penguins, pelicans and boobies.

Ed Hutchinson, a molecular virologist at the MRC Center for Virology Research at the University of Glasgow, said: “The arrival of this H5N1 virus in Antarctica late last year was a wake-up call because of the risk it posed to wildlife here. .” Fragile ecosystems. While it’s very sad to hear reports of penguins dying… unfortunately, it’s not surprising. “

Diana Bell, emeritus professor of conservation biology at the University of East Anglia, expressed similar concerns. “I’m really shocked – as is everyone who cares about penguins and Antarctica… given their colonial social organization, you just wonder how fast it would move through the colony,” she said.

The threat of avian influenza exacerbates existing pressures on pristine polar ecosystems.A study from King Penguins Predicted in Antarctica in 2018 It may face extinction by the end of this century.

A few weeks ago, a Polar bears also died from H5N1, marking the first recorded case of this species. The bear was found in Utqiagvik, an area hit hard by the current global pandemic. Polar bears are listed as “vulnerable” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, largely due to declining sea ice.

The virus also poses a threat to humans, especially those who come into contact with poultry.