Bird Flu in UK Waters Causes Two Dolphins Die
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VoxPop – The bird flu virus has triggered the deaths of two dolphins for the first time in the UK. The animals were found last month in Devon and Pembrokeshire amid growing concern after the virus successfully infected mammals and posed a risk to humans.
A highly contagious strain of bird flu was confirmed in mammals by the Animal and Plant Health Agency. Although it is the first time dolphins have been killed by the infection in British waters, 23 other mammals have been affected.
It has spread to seals, otters, harbor porpoises, and foxes – raising fears in recent months due to the "unprecedented" current outbreak since October last year.
Although this is the first time a dolphin has been killed by the infection in UK waters, 23 other mammals have also been infected. The virus has also spread to seals, otters, harbor porpoises, and foxes.
"Samples taken as part of routine wildlife surveillance have detected the presence of influenza of avian origin in two dolphins and one porpoise. The animals were found dead, and they likely preyed on infected wild birds," said a spokesperson for the Animal and Plant Health Agency.
Ilustrasi flu burung.
- Antara FOTO.
The condition has caused fear in recent months due to an unprecedented outbreak since October last year. The H5N1 strain has had a mortality rate of about 50 percent among humans with a record 870 people having been infected with bird flu in the past 20 years and 457 of them dying.
"The presence of influenza of avian origin in mammals is not new, although it is uncommon, and the risk of the H5N1 strain to non-avian UK wildlife remains low." The agency said.
Elsewhere in the world, bird flu has previously affected sea lions and mink, and winged animals. This comes as scientists have warned that the virus might mutate to infect human cells after an 11-year-old girl died after contracting the virus.
