PORTLAND, Maine — 

The Avian influenza virus is causing the death of numerous seals and sea lions in various parts of the world, causing disruptions in ecosystems and perplexing scientists who struggle to find a solution to stop its devastating effects.

In 2020, a global outbreak of avian influenza has resulted in the deaths of numerous birds and has also affected wildlife worldwide. While this virus is not believed to pose a significant danger to humans, its transmission in agricultural settings and natural environments has caused significant economic and ecological ramifications.

According to scientists, seals and sea lions in different locations such as Maine and Chile are particularly susceptible to the illness. The virus has been found in seals on both the east and west coasts of the United States, resulting in over 300 deaths in New England and a few more in Puget Sound, Washington. The situation is even more severe in South America, with over 20,000 sea lions dying in Chile and Peru, and thousands of elephant seals dying in Argentina.

According to Marcela Uhart, the director of the Latin America program at the Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center at the University of California, Davis, the virus can be contained among domesticated animals, but it can freely spread among wild animals and marine mammals. She also mentioned that marine mammals like seals in South America, who have not been previously exposed to the virus, have experienced harsh consequences.

According to Uhart, once the virus is introduced into wildlife, it rapidly spreads if there are animals and species that can be infected. The movement of animals also contributes to the virus spreading to different regions.

Researchers are currently investigating how seals may have become infected with bird flu. According to Uhart, it is believed that contact with infected seabirds is the most common method of transmission. Since the arrival of the virus in 2022, there has been a high mortality rate among South American marine mammals. In addition, hundreds of thousands of birds in Peru and Chile have died from the virus since then.

The virus continues to spread and was first identified in February in mainland Antarctica.

The passing of seals and sea lions causes disturbance in ecosystems where these marine mammals play important roles as top-level predators. Seals play a crucial role in maintaining balance in the ocean by regulating the population of the fish they prey on.

Several animal species, including South American sea lions and Southern elephant seals, have relatively consistent populations. However, researchers are concerned about the potential spread of the virus to more vulnerable animals. Experts have suggested that avian flu may have contributed to the decline of hundreds of endangered Caspian seals in Russia in the previous year.

“The current magnitude of wildlife loss poses an extraordinary threat of population decline, leading to an ecological emergency,” stated the World Organization for Animal Health, a global governing body.

Researchers at Tufts University’s Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine discovered a bird flu outbreak in New England that had a greater impact than expected. The outbreak, which occurred in 2022, resulted in the deaths of over 330 harbor and gray seals along the North Atlantic coast. According to the scientists, it is likely that the seals were exposed to the virus through contact with infected gulls or by consuming infected birds.

The U.S. government classified the seal die-off as an “unusual mortality event” caused by avian influenza. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has officially ended the event, but there are still concerns about a potential recurrence.

According to Wendy Puryear, a contributor to the research study from Tufts University, marine mammals are experiencing exceptionally large outbreaks. This is linked to the abundant presence of viruses in coastal birds, which provide ample opportunities for transmission to marine mammals.

According to experts, there may be a connection between the current outbreaks and the impact of climate change on our oceans. As sea temperatures rise, there has been a decrease in the number of forage fish off the coast of northern Chile, resulting in weakened and disease-prone sea lions. Liesbeth van der Meer, director of Chile’s environmental organization Oceana, supports this theory.

According to van der Meer, scientists and environmentalists have high hopes that vaccinating poultry can reduce the transmission of the illness. He also stressed the importance of avoiding contact with potentially infected animals in their natural habitats.

Van der Meer stated that officials have organized efforts to educate people about the illness, emphasizing the importance of avoiding contact with sick or deceased seabirds and marine mammals in the coastal regions.

Even seals in aquariums are not considered completely safe from bird flu. The New England Aquarium, where outdoor harbor seal exhibits delight thousands of visitors every year, has taken strict sanitation precautions to prevent transmission of the virus to its animals, said Melissa Joblon, the Boston aquarium’s director of animal health.

According to her, employees are not permitted to bring products from their backyard poultry into the aquarium, and a protective awning prevents birds that may carry the virus from entering the seal exhibit.

Joblon stated that it is a danger for the animals living in this area. He also mentioned that none of the seals in the aquarium have contracted the illness.

According to a paper published in the journal Nature Communications last autumn, the deaths of marine mammals caused by mutations in the avian virus are of great concern. The paper emphasizes the need for further investigation and stresses the urgent importance of local surveillance to control outbreaks and prevent transmission to other species, including humans.

A study published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases in February discovered that the avian influenza virus has undergone changes that enable it to pass between birds and mammals. The virus was detected in identical form in deceased sea lions, a deceased seal, and a deceased seabird. The results are noteworthy, as they validate a widespread occurrence of the virus that can impact various species of marine animals and birds.

Lynda Doughty, the executive director of Marine Mammals of Maine, a rescue organization that helped seals affected by bird flu during the New England outbreak, warns that an increase in seal deaths could have a detrimental impact on crucial ecosystems globally.

Doughty emphasized the necessity of a thriving ecosystem. Removing crucial species raises concerns about the repercussions of this action, which is a pressing issue worth millions of dollars.

Source: voanews.com