Forgotten epidemic: with over 280 million birds dead how is the avian flu outbreak evolving?
New data reveals the virus has spread to endangered species in Antarctica – yet the H5N1’s risk to biodiversity, farming and human health is little explored
With at least 280 million birds dead since October 2021, the highly infectious H5N1 strain of avian flu has devastated poultry and caused the biggest sudden drop of the world’s wild bird population in decades. The millions of wild birds killed includes tens of thousands of endangered and endemic species – and tens of thousands of mammals have died too.
Today, new data, published in Nature Communications, documents the disease’s spread to the southernmost tip of the planet – the Antarctic region – where it has inflicted significant die-offs in elephant seals and fur seals. This outbreak has affected every continent except Oceania, and yet there has been little coverage of the impact on global biodiversity and farming systems – or of potential risks to human health.
Continue reading...Date: |
More from The Guardian
-
The Guardian - World
‘Catastrophe of epic proportions’: eight drown in Europe amid heavy floods
Storm Boris has caused rivers to burst banks and trapped people in their homes across Austria, Poland and Slovakia. Eight people have drowned in Austria, Poland and Romania and four others are ...2 hours ago -
The Guardian - World
JD Vance admits he is willing to ‘create stories’ to get media attention
Republican vice-presidential candidate defends spreading false, racist claims demonizing Haitian immigrants. In a stunning admission, the Republican vice-presidential candidate, JD Vance , said he ...2 hours ago -
The Guardian - World
Netanyahu tells Houthis they will pay ‘heavy price’ as missile hits Israel
Rebel group claims what would be first missile to have landed in Israel from Yemen, but no reports of casualties. The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has warned Yemen’s Houthi rebels ...2 hours ago - Israel -
The Guardian - World
South Africa school language law stirs Afrikaans learning debate
The DA party argues Afrikaans education will be harmed, while the ANC says law is necessary to redress inequality. A contentious South African education law has drawn furious condemnation from ...6 hours ago -
The Guardian - World
RFK Jr says he faces federal investigation for beheading whale
Former presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr decries ‘weaponization of our government’ over 1994 incident. Robert F Kennedy Jr has said that he is being investigated by federal authorities ...2 hours ago