Topic: Research News

Scientists found that more than 50 seabirds called skuas died from a highly contagious bird flu virus in Antarctica. This is the first time this virus has caused such a large die-off in wildlife.

Researchers at Erasmus MC in The Netherlands and the University of California, Davis, studied the deaths of over 50 skuas in Antarctica during the summers of 2023 and 2024. They found that the birds died from the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1. This is the first confirmed wildlife die-off caused by this virus on the continent.

Skuas are large brown seabirds that live mainly in polar and subpolar regions. They are predators and scavengers, similar to birds of prey. Their scavenging behavior may have increased their risk of catching and spreading the virus across Antarctica.

The researchers detected H5N1 earlier in 2024 when they found dead skuas and a kelp gull. However, this is the first study that shows the virus was the actual cause of death.

Implications

Scientists found that more than 50 seabirds called skuas died from a highly contagious bird flu virus in Antarctica. This is the first time this virus has caused such a large die-off in wildlife.