Buenos Aires –
A deadly bird flu has been identified for the first time in Antarctica, posing a potential risk to giant penguin colonies in the southern region, scientists said.
Spain’s Superior Forensic Science Council (CSIC) said on Sunday: “The discovery shows that a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus has reached Antarctica despite the distance and natural barriers that separate it from other continents. “We demonstrated this for the first time.”
CSIC added that the presence of the virus was confirmed in a sample of a dead skua seabird discovered by Argentine scientists near the Antarctic base Primavera on February 24.
The confirmed cases on the Antarctic Peninsula, following cases on nearby islands including gentoo penguins, raise the risk of colonies in the region from H5N1 avian influenza, which has decimated bird populations around the world in recent months. is highlighted.
“Analysis conclusively shows that the birds were infected with the H5 subtype of avian influenza and that at least one of the dead birds contained highly pathogenic avian influenza virus,” CSIC said in a statement. “It was done,” he said.
Hundreds of thousands of penguins live in dense colonies in Antarctica and nearby islands, where the deadly virus could easily spread.
Data from the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research also shows that the current confirmed cases were confirmed at the research station.