- "The discovery of two corpses of
penguins at the beginning of the week on l'île of the Possession
threw the disorder in the scientific community of the base Alfred-Faure.
The first analyses carried out on the spot reveal a strong suspicion of
aviary influenza.
-
- the last rotation of Marion-Dufresne
which had left the Meeting on last 19 March to supply the southern Lands
and the Antarctic Frenchwoman (TAAF), complete equipment of molecular biology
had been delivered to l'équipe of Professor Chauron who undertakes
research on the penguins of the sub-antarctic French islands for the account
of l'OMS... The results of the first analyses are relatively worrying.
Traces of virus H5N1 were insulated in the low part of l'appareil digestive
of these marine birds."
-
- The above comments suggest penguins in
Antarctica are fatally infected with H5N1. Confirmation of these
results would be cause for concern. Antarctica is relatively close
to South America, Africa, and Australia, offering easy access for worldwide
spread of H5N1 as the host range and geographical reach continue to expand.
-
- More details on the initial results would
be useful. If H5N1 is isolated, sequence data would be revealing.
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