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Seabird consultants working with the Australian Antarctic Program will journey to Antarctica this summer time to watch seabird populations for indicators of the lethal avian influenza virus. Avian influenza, often called hen flu, has been round for many years however in 2020 a brand new extremely pathogenic pressure emerged (HPAI H5N1), leading to extreme illness and excessive mortality charges.
There have been no recognized instances in Antarctica thus far, however in response to the Council of Managers of Nationwide Antarctic Applications (COMNAP), hen flu has been detected in birds and mammals in South America, South Africa and the Arctic “so the danger is heightened that HPAI will make its option to Antarctica by the use of pure migration of species in the course of the 2023/24 or the 2024/25 Antarctic seasons.”
Seabird ecologist Dr Louise Emmerson mentioned the illness was extremely transmittable between birds and was anticipated to reach within the Falkland Islands, not removed from Antarctica, when the migratory species returned to their breeding colonies.
“There are a number of hen species which have been affected and we all know it might probably have an effect on penguins in addition to flying seabirds. Concerningly, it has additionally been discovered to happen in seals and barely in people.” she mentioned.
“There are some colonies the place it’s worn out 75 per cent of the inhabitants so it’s a very vital virus. There have actually been deaths of many a whole bunch of hundreds of birds from this virus.
“Mainly, this 12 months our suggestion is to steer clear of wildlife in Antarctica. Usually we might counsel expeditioners may sit quietly and benefit from the alternative of a curious penguin coming shut so long as they did not method the penguin, however this 12 months it is very important preserve a distance.
“We’ll be operating a monitoring program from again right here (in Hobart) the place we’ll ask expeditioners from all three Australian Antarctic analysis stations to take video footage to ship to us, and we’ll take a look at it.
“We’re additionally sending seabird analysis groups to Antarctica the place they’ll take a better take a look at the birds and make a name primarily based on their intensive expertise working with and round them and understanding what regular hen behaviour and colonies appear to be.”.
“If there’s any signal of sick or dying birds that we suspect is avian influenza, then we’ll shut that space.”
‘We can be disinfecting boots, tools and clothes’
The almost certainly means the illness would arrive in Antarctica is by way of a migratory hen however there’s additionally threat of transmission from people.
Particular measures are being taken this 12 months to stop that.
“Via the Australian Antarctic Program, we’re sustaining additional vigilance in order that any of the tools we’re sending down with expeditioners just isn’t going to have avian influenza on it,” Dr Emmerson mentioned.
“We can even be disinfecting boots, tools and clothes between websites to make sure there isn’t any threat of us spreading it if it’s there.”
To guard each birds and people, AAD seabird analysis groups in Antarctica will put on additional protecting clothes, face masks and eye safety when they’re near colonies or working with the birds and can solely conduct analysis in areas the place there isn’t any visible signal of the virus.
The Nationwide Science Basis within the US has launched comparable pointers for individuals working with the US Antarctic Program, advising expeditioners to decontaminate tools and chorus from spending an excessive amount of time on the bottom close to wildlife.
It lists signs of the virus in birds and mammals as trembling of the top and physique, closed or excessively watery eyes, lethargy and lack of steadiness.
“Whereas we can be preserving a detailed eye for any indicators of avian influenza, our analysis focus this 12 months is on how the seabirds reply to file low sea-ice, and whether or not the Adélie penguin populations within the Mawson space have confirmed any indicators of restoration since a current dramatic decline,” Dr Emmerson mentioned.
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