Understanding how avian influenza reached Antarctica helped provide more insight into how the virus moved around the world, he said. A new strain of bird flu has been discovered in Antarctic penguins, raising fears the virus is reaching the area more often than originally thought via migratory birds who have interacted with infected poultry in North and South America. The virus, known as H7N9 or avian influenza A(H5NL), was first detected on a small number of penguins at an isolated research station off Antarctica last year.
A new strain of bird flu has been discovered in Antarctic penguins, raising fears the virus is reaching the area more often than originally thought via migratory birds who have interacted with infected poultry in North and South America. The virus, known as H7N9 or avian influenza A(H5NL), was first detected on a small number of penguins at an isolated research station off Antarctica last year.