British scientists are leading the world in the fight against bird flu as the virus spreads in Antarctica for the first time.
An experienced virologist from the UK’s Animal and Plant Health Agency has traveled to the British Overseas Territory of South Georgia over the past three weeks to collect samples of dead seals and birds to determine whether avian flu is developing and potentially poses a threat to humans.
Professor Ian Brown, Director of Scientific Services at APHA, said: I Developments in the sub-Antarctic and Antarctic regions are of “great interest” after avian influenza was confirmed in several skuas (a species of gull) in the Arctic in October.
Scientists have found high mortality rates among juvenile elephant seals at three different sites in South Georgia, raising fears they died from bird flu, which may have evolved to be more easily transmitted between mammals.
Dr Marco Falchieri, from APHA’s influenza and avian virology team, traveled thousands of miles to South Georgia to collect samples from elephant seals and send them back to the organization’s laboratories in Weybridge, Surrey, to analyze whether there had been any change in the virus. . .
The H5N1 virus strain has been spreading through the world’s bird populations since October 2021, but it first reached Antarctica in October this year.
There have been several “mass deaths” of mammals in the wild and in captivity over the past year, although it is not confirmed that the virus has changed and can be transmitted from mammal to mammal.
There have been a few reported cases of human deaths from the H5N1 virus, but all cases had direct contact with poultry or other birds, and none were infected through contact with another person.
However, scientists fear that as the virus adapts to spread more easily between mammals, it could eventually spread between humans.
South Georgia, located approximately 900 kilometers southeast of the Falkland Islands, is one of the least disturbed island and marine ecosystems in the cool temperate zone and has the largest concentration of seabirds and marine mammals in the world.
Several skuas have died from bird flu on Bird Island off the northwest coast of South Georgia. They probably contracted the virus from migratory birds from South America.
The results of the baby elephants are expected in the new year.
If avian influenza continues to spread in the sub-Antarctic region, it could pose a significant threat to its fragile ecosystems, potentially endangering some very large populations of seabirds and marine mammals.
Professor Brown said: “The situation in the sub-Antarctic region is of great importance for both the animals and birds living on the islands.”
“The observation that the virus may be causing seal deaths raises concerns about the virus’s ability to infect mammals.
“Following diagnostic assessment, we will analyze the sequences of all positive samples to determine whether there has been a change in the virus and assess any risk to humans. However, the global situation at present is such that the risk of human infection with H5N1 is very high. short.”
APHA is a “world leader” in avian influenza research, Professor Brown added.
The International Reference Laboratory in Weybridge analyzes samples from around the world, provides expert advice and quickly shares the latest information on outbreaks internationally.
The results of the analysis of seal samples are shared with other governments and international organizations to combat the disease.
Source: I News
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