First case of Walrus dying from bird flu recorded on Arctic island: Researcher

One of Norway’s Arctic islands recorded its first case of a walrus dying from bird flu, a researcher told news agency AFPon Monday (Apr 29). The walrus was found among six others on Hopen Island in the Svalbard archipelagolast year.

What we know about the case

Christian Lydersen, of the Norwegian Polar Institute, told AFP that around six dead walrus were found last year in the Svalbard islands which are around 1,000 kilometres away from the North Pole. The islands are also halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole.

“It is the first time that bird flu has been recorded in a walrus,” said Lydersen, as quoted by the news agency. The conclusion was reached after tests were carried out at a German laboratory which found traces of the bird flu virus.

However, Lydersen said that the sample was too small to determine whether it was the H5N1 or the H5N8 strain. The researcher also noted that it is “not improbable” that some of the walruses found also had bird flu.

‘Important to monitor developments’

The case has raised concerns among researchers. Lydersen said that it is important to monitor developments as walruses tend to group together during summer when the ice flow melts.

Notably, while bird flu primarily spreads through avian hosts like ducks and geese, mammals have also been infected due to the consumption of infected birds and living close to other animals.

A walrus which can grow to a weight of two tonnes mainly eats fish, but sometimes also consumes marine birds.

Frank Wong, a molecular microbiologist at the CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory reportedly raised concerns about the threat posed by the transmission of bird flu to marine mammals.

He noted that animals such as sea lions and fur seals have previously fallen victim to the disease.

There is also the risk of a polar bear eating an infected walrus corpse. The report by AFP citing American officials said that bird flu has already killed one polar bear in Alaska.

According to Antarctic researchers, thousands of marine mammals have died from bird flu viruses in South America.

(With inputs from agencies)