"Fears for penguin colonies after the discovery of the highly contagious H5N1 virus in two dead skuas".

"Bird flu has reached mainland of Antarctica for the first time, officials have confirmed.

The H5N1 virus was found on Friday in two dead scavenging birds called skuas near Primavera Base, the Argentinian scientific research station on the Antarctic peninsula.

Additional suspected cases have been reported in brown skua, south polar skua and kelp gull in Hope Bay, also on the Antarctic peninsula, according to data from the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research.

“This discovery demonstrates for the first time that the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus has reached Antarctica, despite the distance and natural barriers that separate it from other continents,” said a Spanish government report on Sunday."

Phoebe Weston reports for the Guardian February 26, 2024. [2]