In headlines around the world, you may have come across alarming news about the surge in avian influenza cases in wild birds and other animals.
I want to shed some light on what it is all about and what’s being done.
What is avian flu?
Often known as bird flu, it affects poultry and wild birds. Like other viruses, there are lots of different strains, most of which cause no or very few symptoms in infected wild birds.
But the current outbreak is known as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), which can cause severe disease and high mortality.
The strain causing most concern is called H5N1 and it’s caused unparalleled mortality of wild birds and mammals worldwide, putting pressure on species that are already at high risk.
Its effects have been felt in over 400 bird species around the world, in, at least, wildfowl, herons, rails, grebes, cranes, gulls, terns, waders, cormorants, gannets, auks, penguins, pelicans, flamingos, raptors including vultures (and condors), owls, and corvids.
What’s being done?
BirdLife International is a member of the United Nations-led CMS Scientific Task Force on Avian Influenza and Wild Birds that is leading efforts to gather advice on the conservation impact of the disease.
As a task force, we are not only providing insights into the root causes but also recommending effective measures and developing early warning systems to combat this issue.
