The Galapagos tents have gone down in history for their important role in the development of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. But nearly 200 years later, these animals are back in the spotlight in science. Again in a negative way, they have been pointed to as a possible source of the next avian influenza (H5N1) pandemic.
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All Galapagos birds are vulnerable
- Three of the five dead birds recently tested positive for the disease, according to the Galapagos National Park Service (GNPD).
- This is the first time the virus has hit the islands.
- Scientists warn that non-native identification of H5N1 means all bird species are susceptible.
- Currently, only Antarctica and Australia are free of bird flu outbreaks.
- This information is available from the new atlas.
Bird flu worries authorities
After tests on the Ecuadorian mainland, the two birds (two frigates and an atobá) were confirmed to be victims of the H5N1 virus.
Two and five samples were initially tested, and three of them tested positive for H5N1 avian influenza.
Galapagos National Park in a statement
Over the past two years, more than 500 million farmed birds have died or been killed by the virus, and hundreds of thousands of wild birds are estimated to have died worldwide.
Bird flu has also killed thousands of sea lions in South America. Shrimp, worms and some humans are also infected.
The fact is that this situation has been circulating for decades, due to intensive farming and mutations that led to the spread of avian influenza. Recently, scientists confirmed that a new mutation makes the virus more dangerous at transmitting to humans. The discovery of a virus subtype circulating in Chinese poultry farms raises concerns about potential future epidemics or pandemics, researchers have confirmed.
no brazil
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock confirmed two more cases of bird flu. Not all, it only happened 88 times in all of Brazil. Others are under investigation.
Two cases were registered in the country, and the domestic breeding took only two days. The rest are confirmed by passers-by living freely in the bush and forest. This has not been confirmed to occur in commercially raised birds, which are used solely for hunting.