Scientists have confirmed the presence of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus (HPAIV) on mainland Antarctica and fear an ‘ecological disaster’. The HPAIV – known as Bird Flu – causes serious illness in birds. Researchers from the Severo Ochoa Molecular Biology Center of the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) are working to prevent transmission of the virus to humans.
Scientists have confirmed the presence of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus (HPAIV) on mainland Antarctica and fear an ‘ecological disaster’. The HPAIV – known as Bird Flu – causes serious illness in birds. Researchers from the Severo Ochoa Molecular Biology Center of the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) are working to prevent transmission of the virus to humans.
In a press release, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation said that a group of scientists – led by CSIC’s Antonio Alcamí – found the virus in two samples of dead skuas. Alcamí works at the Spanish Antarctic Base “Gabriel de Castilla”, on Deception Island. He confirmed the presence of the virus on February 24.
“The samples were obtained using maximum protective measures to avoid transmission of the virus to people. Once the samples were taken, the viruses present in them were immediately inactivated to allow them to be studied safely,” the press release read.
