Falklands: Bird flu continues to spread; mortality of albatross and penguin chicks
Dr. Zoe Fowler, “We have to learn to live with avian influenza, not knowing how long it will last, but with a realistic and appropriate attitude and not putting stress on seabirds.”
Thousands of albatross chicks have died as a result of an avian influenza outbreak on Pinnacle Jason Island in the north-western Falklands, a health visit in January by the Falkland Islands Conservation Organization revealed when they found high albatross mortality rates and , although slightly smaller, somewhere between a rockhopper penguin and a skua.
In December last year, highly pathogenic avian influenza was diagnosed for the first time on the island. Since then, the island has been declared an epidemic area and no one is allowed to travel there. There will be a further review of the situation on March 28, at which time the situation will be assessed.
Dr Zoe Fowler, chief veterinarian at the Falkland Islands Department of Agriculture, which is monitoring this outbreak and others in the islands, confirmed we must learn to live with avian influenza, “not knowing how long it will last, but with reality and an appropriate attitude.” “Biosecurity measures must be put in place to allow seabird populations to recover without disturbing or stressing them. Therefore, “we also don’t know in advance when access to these areas will open and when we will close.”
Other outbreaks have been detected on Sea Lion Island, which has been declared an infected area and is closed to unauthorized human travel. On the island, there is a severe mortality of gentoo penguin chicks (hundreds of them).
As for sea lions and elephant seals, unlike South Georgia, the Falkland Islands have so far recorded no cases of avian influenza symptoms among these mammal populations.
Dr Zoe Fowler also explained that there was sometimes confusion between the number of swab tests carried out and the published animal mortality rates. He explained that this is because six or seven batches of swab tests are carried out in suspected areas, and when one of them is positive, it is counted as one batch because it indicates the presence of influenza and does not require swab testing of the birds. by birds..
The chief veterinarian said some 43 batches of swab tests had been carried out since October, of which seven had come back positive and two were still pending.
In summary, members of the public must report cases of dead or sick birds, never touch them and notify the veterinary team after hours on 27336 or 55366.
“At the moment we are lucky that the outbreak is on a remote island, but we cannot rule out that other more accessible areas will eventually be affected by avian influenza.”