The arrival of bird flu in Antarctica is threatening the world's most isolated wildlife
The highly contagious H5N1 bird flu virus has reached the Antarctic mainland for the first time, posing a catastrophic risk to unique species like penguins that have never encountered the disease.
In early 2024, scientists confirmed the presence of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza on the Antarctic mainland after it was detected in dead skuas. This arrival is particularly alarming because Antarctica’s wildlife lives in dense, crowded colonies, which allows viruses to spread with devastating speed.
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