Polar bear dies from hen flu in Alaska

A polar bear in Alaska has died from the H5N1 pressure of hen flu, often known as avian influenza. Reported in December by the Alaska Division of Environmental Conservation, that is the primary recorded case globally of a polar bear dying from the virus.

This incident illustrates the widespread attain of the virus, now affecting even probably the most distant areas of the planet.

Bob Gerlach, Alaska’s state veterinarian, confirmed the incident, which occurred close to Utqiagvik, one in every of Alaska’s northernmost communities. It’s suspected that the bear contracted the virus by consuming carcasses of birds contaminated with H5N1.

Polar bears, listed as “vulnerable” on the Worldwide Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) purple listing, at the moment are confronted with this new risk.

H5N1 was first detected in the Antarctic region in October, affecting brown skua on Hen Island, off South Georgia. This was adopted by quite a few deaths of elephant seals, fur seals, kelp gulls, and extra skuas. The virus poses a major ecological risk, significantly if it reaches distinctive and remoted species like penguins.

Hen flu and farming

The H5N1 pressure of hen flu initially emerged on industrial hen farms and has since advanced and unfold to wild birds and different animals.

H5N1 is very pathogenic, that means it might probably trigger extreme illness and excessive mortality charges. Its first main outbreak in home poultry occurred within the late Nineties in Asia. Since then, the virus has unfold globally.

In industrial hen farms, the big variety of birds creates an atmosphere that contributes to the fast unfold and mutation of the virus. This may result in extra aggressive strains that pose a danger to hen populations and mammals, together with people.

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