Bird flu, also known as avian influenza, has caused the deaths of approximately 220 James’ flamingos in Catamarca province, Argentina, raising concerns about the virus’s impact on wildlife populations worldwide. The highly contagious and deadly disease, caused by the H5N1 strain of avian influenza virus, has spread to more than 80 countries since 2022.
According to experts, the H5N1 strain poses a low risk to humans, with only 11 reported cases of infection in humans worldwide. However, the virus has been found to infect various mammal species, including seals and farmed mink. Additionally, there have been instances of domestic cats and dogs being infected by the virus, raising concerns about its potential to spread to other animal populations.
Flamingos, which are known to live in large flocks, can quickly spread the virus from one infected individual to an entire population, making them particularly vulnerable to the disease. The outbreak in Argentina has led to the recommendation that people avoid contact with sick or deceased birds without proper protection.
The impact of the virus on wildlife populations is not well understood, and experts are closely monitoring its spread and its potential to cause mass mortalities and even species extinction. Argentine officials have confirmed the cause of death of the flamingos following positive test results for H5N1, leading to precautions such as recommending that people avoid contact with sick or deceased birds and moving captive bird populations indoors at zoos to minimize the risk of infection.
With the James’ flamingo listed as “near threatened” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species, experts are urging people to report any unusual animal deaths to wildlife agencies in order to track the spread of the virus and potentially prevent its impact on vulnerable species. While there is limited capacity to control the spread of the virus, early intervention is seen as crucial for protecting wildlife populations.
