Avian flu suspected on South Africa’s remote Marion Island

At least 100 wandering albatross fledglings (Diomedea exulans) are thought to have died from high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAIV) on the sub- Antarctic island of Marion Island, home to half of the world’s population of the endangered birds. Since the first cases were suspected two months ago, at least a dozen sick king penguins have also been counted.

Fieldwork involving the handling of seabirds on this South African research island has been put on hold. Peter Mbelengwa, communication director at South Africa’s Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), says that based on the number of cases seen by late November, the island is operating on level 2 alert. “This requires us to continue monitoring as usual, but we have adopted more preventive measures such as not handling any seabirds,” he added.