Concerning – Bird Flu Has Evolved To Spread to Marine Mammals

The findings have raised concerns regarding the conservation of wildlife and the health of ecosystems.
A study from the University of California, Davis, and the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) in Argentina reveals that the highly contagious H5N1 avian influenza virus has evolved to transmit among birds and marine mammals, presenting a direct risk to wildlife conservation efforts.

The study, published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, is the first genomic characterization of H5N1 in marine wildlife on the Atlantic shore of South America.

For the study, scientists collected brain samples from four sea lions, one fur seal, and a tern found dead at the most affected sea lion rookery in Argentina. All tested positive for H5N1.