The first walrus dies from bird flu in the Arctic of Svalbard

According to researchers at Norwegian Polar Institutea walrus discovered dead last summer in the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard (Norway) died from bird flu, this being the first recorded case of this species.

Christian Lydersen, a scientist at the Norwegian Polar Institute, reported to the newspaper “Svalbardposten” that “the infection most likely came from a seabird«. These statements were made after the German laboratory delivered the results of the tests carried out on the body.

Norwegian experts do not exclude the possibility that the bird flu can transmit to humans through contagion with dead walruses. For this reason, they called for the authorities to be informed if deceased specimens are found in the area.

«Contagion occurs through droplets or close contact«Lydersen told that medium.

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Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) indicated that the global health risk from avian flu remains at a level «low«Despite the discovery of virus H5N1 cheated beef and milk of these animals. This virus, responsible for bird flu, continues to have a rate of lethality in humans that exceeds the 50%.

From 2020, An unprecedented increase in bird deaths caused by the H5N1 virus has been observed, due to the spread of the virus through migratory birds by Africa, Asia and Europe. In addition, there have been registered various outbreaks in mammalsincluding domestic species such as cows, goats, dogs or cats.

During this month, an incident of H5N1 avian flu was recorded in an employee of a farm in Texasin the south of USAwhich constitutes the first documented case of disease transmission from cows to humans.

Signs of the disease usually appear between two and eight days after exposure to the virus and may present similarly to a common cold. The symptoms They include cough, fever, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, and difficulty breathing. Some antiviral medications can be effective if given within the first few 48 hours after the appearance of symptoms.