Bird Flu Reaches Mainland Antarctica, Threatening Penguins and Wildlife
In a concerning development, bird flu has made its way to the mainland of Antarctica for the first time. Officials have confirmed that the H5N1 virus was discovered in two dead scavenging birds called skuas near Primavera Base, the Argentinian scientific research station on the Antarctic peninsula. Additional suspected cases have also been reported in brown skua, south polar skua, and kelp gull in Hope Bay, further highlighting the spread of the virus in the region.
The presence of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in Antarctica is significant as it demonstrates that the virus has managed to overcome the natural barriers and vast distances that separate the continent from other landmasses. A Spanish government report released on Sunday emphasized the significance of this discovery.
These confirmed cases on the continent itself indicate that the virus is spreading within the region, most likely through migratory birds. Since 2021, this H5N1 outbreak has caused the deaths of millions of wild birds worldwide and has reached every continent except Oceania. It first reached the wider Antarctic region in October of last year when it was reported on sub-Antarctic islands. The virus was initially detected on South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, about 1,000 miles away from Antarctica, and later found in the Falkland Islands, which are 600 miles northwest of South Georgia.
Initially, bird flu was reported in birds such as gulls, skuas, and terns but has since been found in albatrosses, penguins, and southern fulmars. Disturbingly, it has also spread to Antarctic mammals, resulting in mass deaths of elephant seals and fur seals. The virus has also been wreaking havoc on wildlife populations in the Arctic. In December, it was confirmed that the first polar bear had died from H5N1.
Matthew Dryden from the UK Health Security Agency expressed concern over the reports of highly pathogenic avian influenza affecting several species in the Antarctic regions this season. He attributed the lack of previous reports on the Antarctic mainland to the challenges of accessing and sampling wildlife in that area.
The dead birds from mainland Antarctica were discovered by Argentinian scientists and sent to scientists from the Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa in Madrid, who were working at the Spanish Antarctic base on Deception Island. Antonio Alcamí, a researcher from the Spanish National Research Council, expressed concern about the potential transmission of the virus to penguins. Previous outbreaks in South Africa, Chile, and Argentina have shown that penguins are susceptible to the virus, resulting in the deaths of over 500,000 seabirds, including penguins, pelicans, and boobies.
Researchers have warned that if the virus starts causing mass mortality events across penguin colonies, it could signal one of the largest ecological disasters of modern times. Diana Bell, an emeritus professor of conservation biology at the University of East Anglia, expressed her lack of surprise at the news, given the previous presence of the virus on Antarctic islands in birds and elephant seals. She believes it is unlikely that the penguins in Antarctica will remain uninfected.
While biosecurity measures have been implemented to limit the spread of the virus to humans, little else can be done to prevent its transmission among wildlife. Close and prolonged contact is required for HPAI to infect humans. Some wildlife sites have been closed to tourists as a precautionary measure, but ultimately, the outbreak will have to resolve naturally.
The arrival of bird flu on mainland Antarctica is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of our ecosystems and wildlife to infectious diseases. As scientists continue to monitor the situation closely, it is crucial that we prioritize conservation efforts and implement measures to protect both human and animal populations from the devastating impacts of such outbreaks.
