Antarctic scientists claim penguin disease confirms spread of avian flu
Scientists in Antarctica are warning about the spread of the H5N1 avian influenza virus due to the fact that last month the disease was detected among local penguin and cormorant populations, Reuters reports
The spread of the virus has alarmed scientists about the potential impact on Antarctica's huge penguin colonies.
“We are talking about a very worrying risk. There are species in danger of extinction, such as emperor penguins and other birds,” the researcher from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Fabiola Leon, who participated in an expedition to monitor avian influenza in Antarctica in late 2023 and early 2024, noted.
She added that the positive cases included nine Adélie penguins and one Antarctic cormorant. The virus was first found in skua seabirds on the Antarctic mainland last month. Fabiola Leon warned that the crowded nature of penguin colonies and migratory movements could exacerbate the virus' spread.
