Dr. Meagan Dewar FState 19 has made her fourth research trip back to Antarctica. Her goal is to keep tabs on how this strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza affects the wildlife in her region. This year celebrates a year since her team first saw the virus in Antarctica. Their discovery has set off a firestorm of panic as the H5N1 strain has now started to infect other seal species.
Our biggest risk right now is that the virus continues to mutate and spread uncontrollably. It’s wreaking havoc in Antarctica and across the globe, affecting tens of millions of poultry and dairy herds throughout the United States. Our researchers like Dr. Dewar are all on the frontlines studying the effects of this virus on wildlife and human health. They’re doing everything they can to stem its tragic impacts.
Monitoring the Impact on Seals
Dr. Dewar’s troubling inferences suggest that a profound crisis is emerging across seal populations. She noted, “We’ve definitely now had detections in most of the seal species in Antarctica.” This unprecedented pattern suggests a dramatic movement of the virus through one of our planet’s most secluded biospheres.
H5N1 has been found in Antarctic wildlife, raising alarm bells for seal and other wildlife populations. This, including any associated skuas and penguins, are now at risk. Researchers are racing against time to understand the dynamics of this outbreak, as Dr. Dewar expressed frustration at witnessing the death toll among these animals: “It’s quite hard to see a lot of these species dying, or already dead.”
Dr. Michelle Wille, another lead researcher, reminded us all of the volatile nature of avian influenza. “The only consistency with avian influenza is that it is unpredictable,” she stated. Her team is currently conducting tests on hundreds of samples from birds and seals. They are currently working at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza in Melbourne.
Global Response and Challenges
The world’s response to the HPAI [highly pathogenic avian influenza] outbreak has been marred by unfortunate missteps and failures. Dr. Kay Russo remarked on the ongoing nature of this outbreak, saying, “This outbreak started in 2022 and we’re still in it.” Internal turf wars between various U.S. government departments have led to up to 4 years of delays. This massive disconnect has contributed to the virus spreading even more rampantly than anticipated.
Dr. Russo described a sense of helplessness in addressing the crisis: “So it feels a little bit hopeless, and that’s not a good feeling to have when you don’t have the tools you need to get in front of it.” Dr. Cookson found that the risk to Australia has greatly escalated due to the rapid spread of the virus. He warned of a new era that requires new vigilance.
“We also have to be cognisant of the human health risks,” – Dr. Beth Cookson
Researchers have long emphasized that finding outbreaks early and containing them is key to stopping the spread. Dr. Wille pointed out that “once this H5 avian influenza virus is in wild bird populations, there are limited options available to prevent or limit the spread.”
Implications for Wildlife and Humans
The ramifications of this outbreak stretch well beyond seals and other wildlife. The H5N1 strain has now been detected in over 1,000 dairy herds across the country. Tens of millions of poultry have been infected with this virus as well. Utilizing genetic evidence to map the strain’s origins, researchers followed it back 7,000 kilometers—as far as the South Georgia Islands. This beautiful discovery reminds us of just how interconnected our global ecosystems really are.
Wildlife is still reeling from this outbreak. Researchers caution that the virus is continuing to mutate, and it comes with fresh challenges. Dr. Wille explained, “As there is more spread from mammal to mammal to mammal, there are more opportunities for the virus to get better at infecting mammals.”
Dr. Dewar elaborated on the ongoing struggle between host species and the evolving virus. “There’s an arms race, of sorts — the host is always trying to find a way to evade the virus, and the virus is always evolving new ways to infect the host.”
“But I think what we’ve learned, and what flu continues to teach us, is to expect the unexpected.” – Anonymous Source
The urgency of this issue is hard to understate. Scientists are constantly working towards improved preparedness as Dr. Cookson noted: “Our level of preparedness has really escalated.” With outbreaks still growing and changing, the importance of strong emergency response partnerships cannot be overstated.
