The recent outbreak of bird flu has had devastating effects on wild bird populations globally, reported The Guardian. Millions of wild birds are estimated to have died from the highly infectious variant of H5N1 since it gained momentum in the winter of 2021. South America, particularly Peru, has been severely impacted, with 200,000 deaths recorded in Peru alone.
The disease has now spread to every continent except Oceania and Antarctica, causing widespread concern among researchers and conservationists. The death toll among wild birds is believed to be in the millions, significantly higher than previously reported figures, and is posing a serious threat to various bird populations and species, potentially leading to extinctions and jeopardising decades of conservation efforts.
Countries such as Peru have been actively recording deaths from bird flu, but other nations, like Brazil, have been less transparent about their situation. The virus has found its way into South America for the first time, with birds in the region having little to no immunity, explaining the high mortality rates observed.
Bird flu has also impacted Europe, with significant population impacts on various species of birds. In the UK, black-headed gulls and terns have been hit particularly hard, resulting in tragic tales of chicks trying to nestle up to dead birds. Seabird breeding colonies have experienced outbreaks, and while some species like northern gannets and great skuas appear to have developed immunity, researchers are still uncertain about the proportion of birds capable of recovering, the duration of immunity, and its protective capabilities.
The virus has shown a worrying global spread, affecting places like Indonesia, with concerns about its potential entry into Australia. Europe, in particular, is now facing its second breeding season with H5N1. The long-term impacts of the outbreak from last year are still affecting the return of birds this year.
Earlier Daryo also mentioned about numerous cats in Poland being tested positive for bird flu, but the UN health agency has stated that the likelihood of the virus being transmitted to humans is minimal.
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