A Case Study of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 At Bird Island, South Georgia: The First Documented Outbreak in the Subantarctic region

Bennison, Ashley ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9713-8310; Adlard, Stacey; Banyard, Ashley C.; Blockley, Freya; Blyth, Marcia; Brown, Emma; Day, George; Dunn, Michael J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4633-5466; Falchieri, Marco; Fitzcharles, Elaine; Forcada, Jaume ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2115-0150; Forster Davidson, Jennifer; Fox, Anthony; Hall, Rosamund; Holmes, Elizabeth; Hughes, Kevin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2701-726X; James, Joe; Lynton-Jenkins, Joshua; Marshall, Steve; McKenzie, Dan; Morley, Simon A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7761-660X; Reid, Scott M.; Stubbs, Isabel; Ratcliffe, Norman ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3375-2431; Phillips, Richard A.. 2024 A Case Study of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 At Bird Island, South Georgia: The First Documented Outbreak in the Subantarctic region. Bird Study. 12, pp. https://doi.org/10.1080/00063657.2024.2396563

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Text (Open Access) © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. A case study of highly pathogenic avian influenza HPAI H5N1 at Bird Island South Georgia the first documented outbreak in the subantarctic region.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract/Summary

Capsule: HPAI H5N1 was documented for the first time in the subantarctic region on Bird Island, South Georgia, resulting in the mortality of Brown Skuas Stercorarius antarcticus, Gentoo Penguins Pygoscelis papua, Snowy Albatrosses Diomedea exulans, and Antarctic Fur Seals Arctocephalus gazella. Aims: The spread of the HPAI H5N1 subtype has had dramatic impacts on numerous populations of wild birds and mammals. We describe a case study that can inform the management of HPAI for conservation practitioners and researchers globally. Methods: We documented the detection, monitoring, and impact of the first known outbreak ofH5N1 HPAI in the subantarctic region, at Bird Island in South Georgia (−54.3582, −36.5112) during2023–2024. Deaths from HPAI were first suspected in September 2023 and later confirmed by genetic analysis. Results: In total, 77 Brown Skuas, 38 Gentoo penguins, and 58 Snowy Albatrosses were suspected to have died from HPAI infection, and HPAI was confirmed in 5 dead Antarctic Fur Seals. Total mortality was unknown for all species, as other individuals will have been scavenged before discovery, or died at sea. Conclusion: This case study provides lessons for the management, risk, safety considerations, and ethical decisions regarding animal welfare that may help guide research and management responses to HPAI outbreaks elsewhere, particularly in remote areas or in species of conservation concern.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1080/00063657.2024.2396563
ISSN:	00063657
Additional Keywords:	Highly pathogenic avian influenza; Antarctic; penguin; Albatross; Fur Seal; management
Date made live:	26 Sep 2024 15:31 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/537439

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