First polar bear to die of bird flu – what are the implications?

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 19:19:19 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/first-polar-bear-to-die-of-bird-flu-what-are-the-implications-220603>

"Climate change is a threat to polar bear’s survival. Now they have a new
deadly challenge facing them: bird flu. It was recently confirmed that a polar
bear from northern Alaska has died from the disease.

The current strain of H5N1 influenza has affected a far wider range of species
than any previously recorded strain. This has included several mammal species,
such as foxes, otters, mink, sea lions and seals (including, for the first
time, seals in Antarctica). Cases have been detected in humans, too.

However, while some cases in mammals have been associated with large numbers of
animal deaths, the few cases in humans have, so far, shown only mild symptoms
or have been asymptomatic. So, why are there such differences between species,
and what are the implications of this polar bear’s death for the wider polar
bear population, as well as other large mammals and humans?"

Cheers,
       *** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net               Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/                 Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/            Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/               Manager, Serious Cybernetics

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