Antarctica sees first bird flu case, confirms scientists - Qoneqt
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    Asad Shaikh in News

    27 Feb 12:15 PM


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    Antarctica sees first bird flu case, confirms scientists

    Scientists have said the first confirmation of a lethal strain of avian influenza on Antarctica's mainland, posing a potential threat to the extensive penguin colonies in the southern region.

    As reported by Reuters, citing Spain's Higher Council for Scientific Investigation (CSIC) said on Sunday, “This discovery demonstrates for the first time that the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus has reached Antarctica despite the distance and natural barriers that separate it from other continents."

    CSIC further added that the presence of the virus was confirmed on Saturday in samples of dead skua seabirds that were found by Argentine scientists near the Antarctic base Primavera.
    The recent confirmation of a case on the Antarctic peninsula, following instances on nearby islands, including among gentoo penguins, underscores the danger posed to colonies in the area by the H5N1 avian flu.

    Source - MInt