Mainland Antarctica / Bird Flu Arrives For First Time – Fears For Penguins

The H5N1 virus has been detected in two dead migratory birds on the Antarctic continent, experts have announced. Specifically, the birds were found near the Primavera base – the Antarctic scientific research station. According to the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research (SCAR), other dead birds have been found in Hope Bay, mainly stercorariids (skuas) and Dominican gulls. The virus had already been detected since late October on Bird Island, where another research station is located. Cases and deaths have since been reported in albatross, penguins, and even elephant seals and seals. Also in December, a polar bear died from the virus.

Defeating all natural obstacles, bird flu managed to spread, threatening the future of penguins, who due to the isolated natural environment they live in are extremely vulnerable to pathogenic microorganisms. As the Guardian reports, scientists estimate that if bird flu begins to cause mass deaths in penguins, it could lead to the biggest ecological disaster in modern history.

Previous outbreaks in South Africa, Chile and Argentina have shown that penguins are highly susceptible to the virus. Since H5N1 arrived in South America, more than 500,000 seabirds have died from the disease, including penguins. It should be noted that only Oceania is now the only continent without confirmed cases.