Severo Ochoa

Pew: As Avian Flu Hits Antarctic Peninsula, Global Leaders Must Take Action

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
MPAS, Pew, Bird, Multimedia, Sea, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Animal, Bertarelli Foundation, Severo Ochoa, Scientific method, Organization, Disease, Antarctic Peninsula, Research, Weddell Sea, Whaling

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The highly contagious H5N1 virus, commonly known as avian or bird flu, has been confirmed in two seabirds—both of them Antarctic skuas—on the Antarctic Peninsula. And on February 23, scientists from the Severo Ochoa Molecular Biology Center of the Higher Council for Scientific Research in Madrid confirmed the presence of the deadly virus for the first time on the Antarctic continent.

Key Points: 
  • But H5N1 doesn't only affect birds; it has caused near-complete breeding failure for some colonies of elephant seals.
  • With the virus now confirmed in Antarctica, the only region to not be affected by this latest H5N1 outbreak is Oceania.
  • "World leaders must immediately move to protect this vital place and all the animals that call it home.
  • "Not only can the species found in the Antarctic Peninsula not withstand increasing threats, but the world needs a healthy Southern Ocean ecosystem."