The British Antarctic Survey has issued an urgent call for emergency research funding after a highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza decimated seal populations in the South Atlantic. Preliminary data indicate that the virus, likely carried by migrating birds, has killed up to 75% of newborn fur seals in affected colonies on South Georgia Island. Researchers fear the outbreak could destabilise the region’s fragile ecosystem, which relies on seals as a keystone species.
The Survey warns that without immediate investment in surveillance and containment, the virus may spread to other Antarctic wildlife, including penguins and other seabirds. The request for funds comes as international attention remains focused on geopolitical tensions in the Arctic, leaving the Antarctic research community with limited resources. The outbreak underscores the interconnectedness of global health and the vulnerability of isolated ecosystems to emerging pathogens.
