Deadly avian flu reaches Gal ápagos Islands

In a development that has alarmed conservation biologists, the avian flu strain that has devastated birds and marine mammals on five continents has reached Ecuador’s Galápagos National Park, home to species that are found nowhere else. “It is extremely concerning from a conservation perspective,” says Marcela Uhart, a wildlife veterinarian at the University of California (UC), Davis. “Outbreaks could pose an acute threat to the future of these endemic species.” So far only a few animals have tested positive for the H5N1 virus, which migratory birds can carry over long distances. But the highly contagious pathogen is likely to spread fast through the Galápagos Islands’ dense colonies of seabirds, seals, and sea lions. Warmer seas caused by an imminent El Niño climate pattern could make species even more vulnerable by depleting the ocean life that sustains them. Park authorities are already restricting access to some areas to prevent accidental spread of the virus, raising concerns among residents that outbreaks could depress the tourist economy. The H5N1 virus has circulated in Europe, Africa, and Asia for decades, sometimes causing large losses of poultry. In late 2021, a new, especially aggressive subvariant appeared in North America and soon spread—for the first time—to South America. In the Galápagos, “We were just waiting, wondering when is [an outbreak] going to happen?” says Gustavo Jiménez, a wildlife veterinarian wi...
Source: ScienceNOW - Category: Science Source Type: news