Trending:

Bird Flu Found On Mainland Antarctica For First Time, Ecological Disaster Feared

Scientists have confirmed the presence of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus (HPAIV) on mainland Antarctica and fear an 'ecological disaster'. The HPAIV - known as Bird Flu - causes serious illness in birds. Researchers from the Severo Ochoa Molecular Biology Center of the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) are working to prevent transmission of the virus to humans.

TN World Desk

Updated Feb 26, 2024, 07:17 IST

Bird Flu Found On Mainland Antarctica For First Time (Unsplash)

In a press release, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation said that a group of scientists - led by CSIC's Antonio Alcamí - found the virus in two samples of dead skuas. Alcamí works at the Spanish Antarctic Base “Gabriel de Castilla”, on Deception Island. He confirmed the presence of the virus on February 24.

"The samples were obtained using maximum protective measures to avoid transmission of the virus to people. Once the samples were taken, the viruses present in them were immediately inactivated to allow them to be studied safely," the press release read.

It further adds that the samples were taken to the Spanish Antarctic Base, where they were analyzed by CSIC researchers Ángela Vázquez and Antonio Alcamí.

The scientists concluded that the birds were infected with the H5 subtype of avian influenza and 'at least one of the dead birds contained the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus'.

The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Columbia further stated that the discovery of bird flu will help national polar programs to prepare for transmission to humans.

Last month, a type of bird flu was found in gentoo penguins near mainland Antarctica.

Latest News