UK experts have described the discovery of bird flu in mammals in sub-Antarctica for the first time as “sad and concerning”.
The disease has been found in elephant and fur seals on the island of South Georgia by the Animal Plant Health Agency (APHA).
Professor Ian Brown, APHA’s director of scientific services, said: “Given Antarctica is such a unique and special biodiversity hotspot it is sad and concerning to see the disease spread to mammals in the region.
“If avian influenza continues to spread throughout the sub-Antarctic region this could significantly threaten the fragile ecosystem, and potentially put a number of very large populations of seabirds and sea mammals at risk.
“However, the available genomic surveillance data continues to suggest no widespread mammalian adaptation of the virus and the knowledge gathered from these latest samples will be shared rapidly with international partners to aid their efforts to tackle the disease and inform global risk mitigation. Uncertainties remain as to how the virus is infecting and spreading amongst these populations.”
The disease was first suspected on Bird Island off the northwest coast of South Georgia in October 2023 after the deaths of several brown skua.
An analysis of infected birds showed that the virus was most likely introduced through migratory bird movement from South America.
South Georgia is a UK Overseas Territory in the Southern Atlantic Ocean, approximately 1,000km south-east of the Falkland Islands, and is accessible only by ship.
It has some of the most closely monitored seabird colonies in the world, equipping scientists and conservationists with indicators of change for species.
Ash Bennison, science manager for Bird Island Research Station, said: “It’s incredibly sad to witness the effects of avian flu on the animal populations we study on South Georgia.
“We are doing everything we can to mitigate the effects of this disease and are working closely with the Government of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and the APHA to continue our work to monitor and conserve these amazing species.”
