In Argentina, 96% of baby elephant seals died due to bird flu
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A new strain of the dangerous bird flu H5N1 caused the death of almost an entire generation of elephant seals.
Researchers found more than 17,000 bodies of cubs dead or in critical condition, which is 96% of those born in 2023, writes Science Alert.
Researchers are concerned that H5N1 continues to wreak havoc in wildlife and that the strain is able to spread between mammals.
“The sight of elephant seals found dying or dead along beaches can only be described as apocalyptic,” – noted the Wildlife Conservation Society’s (WCS) health director Chris Walzer.
| Sea elephants. Photo: elleonzebon/Depositphotos |
Researchers say that in 2022, 18,000 southern elephant seals were born along the 300-kilometer coastline of Patagonia (South America). Instead, in 2023, only about a thousand babies remained alive.
Scientists are worried, because we are talking about the loss of almost an entire generation. These animals need at least three years to reach maturity and reproduce. Accordingly, in the future there will be much fewer adults who could give birth to subsequent generations. This will have a significant impact on population size.
The H5N1 bird flu strain was discovered in 1996. Previously, it was common only among domesticated animals. However, now it is rapidly spreading around the world and has even reached Antarctica.
In particular, it was confirmed in December that bird flu caused the death of a polar bear in Alaska, and about 20,000 sea lions died from it in Chile and Peru. In total, the virus infected about 345 species of birds and mammals.
Most affected mammals are carnivores. This has led some experts to suggest that they most likely caught the virus directly from their victims rather than from each other.
So far, there is no evidence that the virus can spread between mammals. However, such a development is quite real, scientists say. The experience of the COVID-19 pandemic shows that viruses adapt well and have become “more adept” at infecting people.
Scientists say that people can get bird flu from animals. Last year, 248 infected people were registered, 139 of them died. This means bird flu has a staggering 56% mortality rate in humans.
Earlier we wrote that a large number of subantarctic seals died due to bird flu.
Vira Shurmakevich, “UP. Life”
Read also: In Argentina, 220 flamingos died due to an outbreak of bird flu
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