A recent study of Adelie penguins in Antarctica has found that some of them are carrying a new version of bird flu. Researchers from the World Health Organization’s Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza in Australia studied the large colonies of penguins living in Antarctica and discovered that strains of the H11N2 influenza germs infected 3 percent of the penguins that were tested.
A recent study of Adeile penguins in Antarctica has found that some of them are carrying a new version of bird flu.
Researchers from the World Health Organization’s Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza in Australia studied the large colonies of penguins living in Antarctica and discovered that strains of the H11N2 influenza germs infected 3 percent of the penguins that were tested.
But the flu isn’t getting any of the penguins sick, and an attempt to infect ferrets with the virus was reportedly unsuccessful, so it seems like there is no threat to humans becoming infected with the penguin version of the avian flu.
The researchers write about one possible route of infection among the penguin population, saying: “The large amount of penguin feces in colonies during summer, which in some cases is so significant it can be observed on satellite images, presumably facilitates viral transmission by the fecal-oral route.”
Experts estimate that the flu has been present in Antarctica anywhere from 49 to 80 years.
The H11N2 influenza is different from strains of the avian flu like the ones found in other parts of the world, some of which have caused sickness and even death for people and animals.