SANTIAGO: Scientists in Antarctica have expressed concern about the possible spread of the deadly H5N1 avian flu virus after it was first confirmed on the continent last month and has since been found in local penguin and cormorant populations.
The spread of the disease has decimated populations of birds across the world while hardly hitting the South American wild bird and marine mammal populations.
The presence of the fatal virus has raised alarm about its potential impact on Antarctica’s huge penguin population.
Researcher Fabiola Leon from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile said they are talking about a very worrying risk adding emperor penguins and other birds in the region are in danger of extinction.
The Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH), last week announced it had found the new positive bird flu cases in the area, which it said was a landmark discovery as it included cases in penguins.
Leon added the positive cases included nine Adelie penguins and one Antarctic cormorant. The virus was first discovered in skua seabirds on the mainland of Antarctica last month.
The expert said this is the first time that highly pathogenic influenza H5N1 has been reported in Antarctic penguins and cormorants. She warned that huge penguin colonies and migratory movements could aggravate the spread of the virus.
She said this may enhance the rate of transmission of the disease among different bird colonies in the frozen region.
