DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Data Report
  HTML https://datareport.createaforum.com
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       *****************************************************
   DIR Return to: Bird Flu (HPAI)
       *****************************************************
       #Post#: 5086--------------------------------------------------
       Bird Flu (H5N1) in 2026: The New Threat to American Marine
       Mammals  Tuesday, February 3, 2026
   DIR By: Masked Man
       Date: February 9, 2026, 12:16 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Bird Flu (H5N1) in 2026: The New Threat to American Marine
       Mammals
       Tuesday, February 3, 2026
       "For years, "Bird Flu" was a term associated primarily with
       poultry farms and migratory waterfowl. However, as we move
       through 2026, the H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)
       has taken a dark turn. It is no longer just an avian crisis; it
       has become a panzootic a global animal pandemic that is
       currently devastating marine mammal populations along the coasts
       of North and South America.
       
       The Marine Mammal Crisis: Why Now?
       In the past 12–18 months, H5N1 has shown an alarming ability to
       jump from seabirds to mammals. Scientists are particularly
       concerned about the "spillover" events involving pinnipeds
       (seals and sea lions).
       Mass Die-Offs on American Shores
       The Atlantic Coast: In New England, hundreds of harbor and
       gray seals have tested positive. The virus often strikes during
       pupping season when animals are huddled closely together.
       The Pacific Coast: From Washington down to California, sea
       lions are being found stranded with neurological symptoms.
       The Global Impact: To understand the scale, look south. In
       Argentina and Chile, H5N1 has wiped out over 17,000 elephant
       seals, including nearly 97% of a single year's pups. Researchers
       in early 2026 are investigating evidence of mammal-to-mammal
       transmission, a mutation that would make the virus even harder
       to contain."
       LINK:
  HTML https://thewildlifeamerica1.blogspot.com/2026/02/bird-flu-h5n1-in-2026-new-threat-to.html
       *****************************************************
       Page 1 of 1