The influenza that occurs in birds, often known as bird flu, has been present for a very long period. However, HPAI H5N1 has only just been identified as an extremely dangerous strain, and as a result, it has become a source of worry on a worldwide scale because of the high fatality rates it causes. Due to the fact that brown skuas on Bird Island, South Georgia, tested positive for the virus, it is now known that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been verified to have been present in the Antarctic area. Unfortunately, these are the very first instances of avian influenza that have been discovered in the region. It is likely that the virus was brought to Bird Island by birds that had migrated to South America, where there is a high prevalence of cases of HPAI.
Even more unfortunate is the fact that it is predominantly a virus that affects birds as hosts; the recent epidemic has also harmed animals in both terrestrial and marine habitats.
Farm birds coming into close proximity to wild birds is one of the ways that the virus can spread, which can result in the culling of otherwise healthy birds in order to put a stop to an outbreak. In addition, illnesses seen in poultry are frequently linked to instances found in human populations. The relevant authorities are keeping a close eye on the outbreaks and provide guidance and status reports. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said that “the current risk to the public from HPAI H5N1 viruses remains low.”
When operating in close proximity to seabirds in the Antarctic, research teams declared earlier this month that they would be taking additional precautions, such as wearing protective clothing, in order to prevent the highly infectious illness from being passed on to the animals themselves. As a result, the World Health Organization has determined that “sustained human-to-human transmission of the viruses from these cases is currently considered unlikely.”
