Emperor penguins and southern elephant seals on South Georgia.
Both species at risk from avian flu.
Both species at risk from avian flu.
Avian flu is currently devastating flocks of seabirds, wiping out breeding colonies and even spreading to mammalian species such as sea lions and the southern elephant seal, the mass deaths of which are believed to have been caused by the H5N1 strain of the influenza virus.
Creationists claim that pathological parasites like the influenza viruses are the result of Adam's & Eve's sin which their beloved god inflicted on the world without prior warning in a tyrannical act of mass punishment for an arbitrary 'wrong', designated as such without any logical reason and applied to a couple of people who weren't equipped to know right from wrong and who hadn't been made aware of the real consequences.
But how killing millions of seabirds, elephant seals and other species punishes mankind or why the entire creation is being punished for a human 'crime' is never explained, leaving creationists to perform the most contorted mental gymnastics and denial of basic logic to simultaneously ascribe this to their putative designer god and make excuses to absolve it of blame for its criminal behaviour, for fear it'll come after then for not loving it enough.
Enough of the childish superstition and now for the real-world science:
Tell me about the H5N1 influenza virus, how it evolved and what species it infects. H5N1 influenza virus, also known as avian influenza or bird flu, is a subtype of influenza A virus that primarily infects birds. This virus has gained attention due to its potential to cause severe disease in humans and its capacity for rapid evolution.In the following article, reprinted from The Conversation under a Creative Commons Licence and reformatted for stylistic consistency, Hanne E F Nielsen, Senior lecturer, University of Tasmania, Meagan Dewar, Lecturer in the School of Science, Psychology and Sport, Federation University Australia and Michelle Wille, Senior research fellow, The University of Melbourne, explain the risk to Antarctic bird populations of the current global bird flu pandemic:
Evolution:
The H5N1 virus is believed to have originated in wild waterfowl, particularly ducks and geese, which are natural reservoirs for influenza A viruses. The virus can undergo genetic reassortment, a process in which different influenza viruses exchange genetic material, leading to the emergence of new strains. This genetic reassortment can occur in birds, especially when different bird species congregate in areas like wetlands, providing an opportunity for the viruses to mix.
The first known cases of H5N1 infection in humans occurred in Hong Kong in 1997. The virus caused severe respiratory illness in humans, with a high mortality rate. Subsequent investigations revealed that the virus had undergone genetic reassortment between avian influenza viruses, resulting in a strain capable of infecting humans.
Species Affected:
H5N1 primarily infects birds, including domestic poultry such as chickens and ducks. However, it can also infect a variety of other bird species, both wild and domesticated. The virus is highly contagious among birds and can spread rapidly within poultry flocks. In some cases, infected birds may not show symptoms but can still shed the virus, contributing to its transmission.
While birds are the natural reservoir, H5N1 has also been known to infect mammals, including humans. Human cases are relatively rare, but when infections occur, they can be severe, with a high mortality rate. Human infections are often associated with direct or close contact with infected birds or their environments.
It's important to note that H5N1 is just one subtype of influenza A, and there are many other subtypes that infect a range of species. Influenza viruses are known for their ability to mutate and reassort, making ongoing surveillance and research crucial for monitoring and understanding potential threats to both animal and human health.
Avian influenza has killed millions of seabirds around the world: Antarctica could be nextHanne E F Nielsen, University of Tasmania; Meagan Dewar, Federation University Australia, and Michelle Wille, The University of Melbourne
Antarctica is often imagined as the last untouched wilderness. Unfortunately, avian influenza (“bird flu”) is encroaching on the icy continent. The virus has already reached the sub-Antarctic islands between the Antarctic Peninsula and South America. It’s only a matter of time before it reaches the Antarctic continent.
So far avian influenza has been detected in several seabird species on South Georgia Island and the Falkland (Malvinas) Islands. These birds are known to travel to Antarctica. Researchers also suspect avian influenza caused mass deaths of southern elephant seals.
The arrival of avian influenza in Antarctica could have potentially catastrophic consequences for the wildlife, decimating large populations.
Antarctic avian influenza outbreaks may also disrupt tourism and research activities during the busy summer season. So what can we do during this challenging time?
Last month, Highly Pathogenic #AvianInfluenza was confirmed on Bird Island, South Georgia in the brown skua population.
— British Antarctic Survey 🐧 (@BAS_News) November 20, 2023
Since then, further symptomatic birds and above baseline mortality have been reported to @GovSGSSI.
Here's the latest update ⬇️https://t.co/VSiTc9VJ4c
We are in the midst of a “panzootic” – a large-scale pandemic of avian influenza, which is occurring across the world and has affected more than 200 species of wild birds.
While this strain of avian influenza (H5N1) is an old foe, the genetics and epidemiology of the virus have shifted. Once mostly found in poultry, it is now infecting large numbers of wild birds. Migrating birds have spread the virus with substantial outbreaks now occurring in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America and South America.
Avian influenza has devastated seabird populations around the world, including a 70% reduction of northern gannets on Bass Rock in the United Kingdom. Many birds are diseased, with signs including loss of coordination, watery eyes, head twisting, breathing distress or lethargy.
Beyond birds, this virus may have killed more than 30,000 South American sea lions and over 2,500 southern elephant seal pups in South America. In South Georgia mass deaths have been observed in elephant seal pups but the virus was not detected in samples sent for laboratory tests.
Bird flu has been implicated in the deaths of sea lions and elephant seals in South America. Here experts from Peru’s National Forestry and Wildlife Service (Serfor) are examining a dead sea lion on a beach in Peru earlier this year.
EPA/Serfor Perú
The first detection of avian influenza near Antarctica occurred in early October on Bird Island, South Georgia, in brown skuas (seabirds similar to large gulls).
A case on the Falkland (Malvinas) Islands was confirmed a few weeks later in another seabird species, the southern fulmar.
Genetic analysis revealed the virus entered these regions on two separate occasions.
Skuas and kelp gulls were highlighted as species most likely to spread the virus to the Antarctic continent in a recent risk assessment, as they travel into the region from South America. They are also highly susceptible to avian influenza, with related species in the Northern Hemisphere suffering losses of more than 60%.
What does this mean for Antarctica?
The Antarctic Peninsula, with its ice-free areas, is an important breeding ground for many key Antarctic species.
Critically, those species – and others, including the iconic Emperor penguin – live in dense colonies and are not found elsewhere in the world, making them particularly vulnerable to disease outbreaks.
Outbreaks on the Antarctic Peninsula will also be extremely disruptive to the tourism industry. More than 104,000 people visited as tourists in the 2022–23 season. People visit to see wildlife, make a continental landing, and enjoy the scenery.
Once avian influenza is confirmed at a particular location, sites will be closed to tourists. This will lead to a different experience for visitors, with land-based wildlife encounters pivoting to cruise-based activities.
What are we doing?
The Antarctic Wildlife Health Network of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research has developed recommendations for the research and tourism communities.
These recommendations include information around biosecurity, testing and reporting of cases. The network’s database collates information on suspected and confirmed cases of the H5N1 avian influenza strain in the Antarctic region. This is central to rapid data sharing.
During the 2022–23 season, a small number of researchers tested suspected cases and conducted surveys, which excluded the presence of avian influenza.
This year, through the generosity of industry partners, we will dramatically expand this effort. The network will conduct surveys across the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic to monitor the presence and impact of the virus on wildlife.
Safety and biosecurity measures have been boosted across the scientific community and tourism industry to reduce the risk of people spreading the virus. This should ensure essential scientific research and tourism activities can continue safely.
New measures now in place include:
- disinfection of boots and outer clothing
- wearing of N95 masks, protective glasses and gloves when working with wildlife
- restrictions on access to infected sites.
The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators is on high alert. Extra training for field staff will help them identify wildlife illness quickly.
Antarctica is connected
Many threats to Antarctica – including climate change, pollution, and pathogens – originate elsewhere. Climate change is expected to increase the spread of infectious diseases in wildlife and Antarctica is not immune.
Disease surveillance and information sharing between all those active in the far south are vital to help minimise the impacts of avian influenza and future disease threats.
The avian influenza example highlights the connectivity of our world, and why we need to care for the planet at home in order to protect the far south.
Hanne E F Nielsen, Senior lecturer, University of Tasmania; Meagan Dewar, Lecturer in the School of Science, Psychology and Sport, Federation University Australia, and Michelle Wille, Senior research fellow, The University of Melbourne
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Why would a so called loving God punish the entire creation for the sin of two primitive humans who ate a forbidden apple? I have been asking this question for years and years. It's unfair, unjust, unreasoning, unforgiving, irrational, insane, stupid and cruel. It's heartless, pitiless, merciless God who has no reasoning and no conscience whatsoever. Fundamentalist Christians and Creationists are so delusional they are unable to see the cruel reprehensible nature of this God they worship.
ReplyDeleteWhat does Adam and Eve's sin have to do with the suffering and death of countless sea birds in Antarctica? The real reason is because of the amoral forces of Nature and evolution. Nature is amoral, mentally blind, morally blind, heartless, pitiless, merciless, indifferent, cruel. That's the real reason and not because 2 primitive humans ate a forbidden apple. Religious folks prefer to believe in the myth of Adam and Eve because they they think it's the word of God.