Bird flu could threaten the world’s largest breeding population of wandering albatrosses, following confirmation of the virus in birds on Marion Island, a sub-Antarctic island teeming with sea birds. It is part of the Edward Islands, administered by South Africa.
An ecological crisis may be unfolding, as bird flu was spreading rapidly in the Antarctic, the Daily Maverick reported after the Marion Island outbreak was confirmed on the Western Cape government’s website.
Samples brought back for testing in South Africa confirmed the outbreak of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu that has been spreading around the world.
Located in the Southern Ocean 1,700km southeast of Cape Town, Marion Island is part of the Prince Edward Islands group, a globally important nesting ground for millions of seabirds, the article said.
“Among its inhabitants are the world’s largest breeding population of wandering albatrosses, as well as vast populations of penguins, southern giant petrels, brown skuas and seals.”
Last month, the Spanish Research Council reported that mainland Antarctica was reaping a grim toll: “H5 influenza virus was detected in 50% of the carcasses tested, which strongly suggests that the virus is causing significant mortality in various species in the Antarctic Peninsula, especially skuas.”
The Daily Maverick said that, while Chile has proposed that all countries operating scientific stations in the Antarctic should adopt unified biosecurity protocols to prevent the inadvertent spread of the disease, this had not happened.
