Monday, Sept. 11, 2023 HPAI Influenza Devastating Birds, Marine Mammals in Peru NIAID-funded researchers working in Peru have signaled public health concern about the deaths of birds and marine mammals from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) that has been spreading globally. Historically, South America has been spared from HPAI outbreaks. The study documenting the outbreak, published in Nature Communications, identifies flu type A/H5N1 lineage 2.3.4.4b. This virus in late 2021 spread from Europe to North America and then in 2022 to South America. Along the way it has devastated wild birds and poultry farms – creating concerns about spillover to people. The scientists say their analyses supports a single introduction of 2.3.4.4b into Peru from North America during October 2022, presumably through the movements of migratory wild birds. The virus then infected local sea birds that share habitats with marine mammals. In November 2022, scientists began documenting animal deaths along the Peruvian coast, including dolphins, sea lions, sanderlings, pelicans, and cormorants. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases  |  National Institutes of Health Update your subscriptions, modify your password or e-mail address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your e-mail address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact Subscriber Help. This service is provided to you at no charge by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).                             This email was sent to myhcistech.healthnews360@blogger.com using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 5601 Fishers Lane · Bethesda, MD 20892 · 1-866-284-4107