Washington Post A deadly bird flu strain reached mainland Antarctica for the first time, leading scientists to worry about the fate of its penguins and other species, A deadly strain of bird flu has been found on mainland Antarctica for the first time, according to scientists, raising concerns over the risk of mass mortality of the continent’s huge colonies of penguins and other animals found nowhere else on Earth.
Researchers on Feb. 24 confirmed the presence of the H5 subtype of avian influenza in two dead seabirds, called skuas, near an Argentine base and scientific research station located on the Antarctic Peninsula, according to the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC).
“This discovery demonstrates for the first time that the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus has reached Antarctica, despite the distance and natural barriers that separate it from other continents,” officials said Sunday.
Over the past several years, the highly infectious disease has devastated both wild and domestic animal populations, making its way around the globe on the migratory routes of birds. Now the arrival of avian influenza on the southernmost continent threatens its unique wildlife, including its iconic penguins.