Penguins in Antarctica are threatened with extinction from bird flu

Penguins in Antarctica are threatened with mass extinction due to bird flu. Jane Rumble, the head of the Department for Polar Regions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Great Britain, said this in an interview with The Telegraph newspaper. According to her, the virus is brought to Antarctica by migratory birds and tourists.

This is a consequence of the bird flu epidemic in South America, which has been going on for almost an hour. The first cases of the disease were recorded in October 2022. Since then, more than 500,000 wild birds of various species and about 20,000 mammals have died in Chile and Peru alone, according to the report of the international influenza research network OFFLU.

Rumble, with reference to experts, suggests that a major outbreak of influenza in animals in Antarctica can be expected in the coming weeks, when the seasonal migration of migratory birds from South America to the continent will begin.

“When this happens, the consequences can be catastrophic,” Rumble said.

Another possible source of transmission of the infection is tourists coming to Antarctica on cruise ships. The tourist season on the continent will also begin in a few weeks, when spring will arrive in the Southern Hemisphere. As reported by Jane Rumble, security measures will be taken for tourists this season. According to the new protocols, their clothes will be thoroughly cleaned before disembarking, and their shoes will be disinfected. They will be advised not to approach animals and birds. In the case of the “worst-case scenario”, disembarking from ships ashore will be completely prohibited.

• The flow of tourists to the Antarctic has been growing noticeably in recent years. If in the 2015-2016 season it was visited by about 38,500 people, then in the coming season more than 115,000 guests are expected.
• Bird flu is also dangerous for marine mammals, such as seals and sea lions, and for humans.