Bird flu set to spread in Antarctic, causing huge damage, report says

Researchers take samples from a sea lion killed by bird flu on the Atlantic coast near Viedma, Argentina, on Aug 29, 2023. [AFP]

Bird flu is likely to spread further in the Antarctic region, causing immense damage to wildlife, according to experts on the highly contagious disease that has killed hundreds of millions of birds worldwide in recent years.

The spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, commonly called bird flu, to the remote southern region has raised concerns for isolated populations of species, including penguins and seals, that have never been exposed to the virus.