Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: https://knr.gl/da/nyheder/første-gang-nogensinde-fund-af-fugleinfluenza-i-grønland
First time ever: Discovery of bird flu in Greenland
January 24, 2023 · 17:42 by Marie Kûitse Kristensen
Two loons in Fyllas Banke have been found to have highly pathogenic bird flu. It is the first time ever that this type of bird flu has been found in Greenland.
For the first time in Greenland, birds have been found to have highly pathogenic bird flu.
This is what Naalakkersuisut writes in a press release.
Last year, a number of self-dead eiders and loons were collected, after several people had observed increased mortality of birds in several places along Greenland's west coast.
In a collaboration between the Veterinary and Food Authority in Greenland, the Nature Institute of Greenland and the Danish Food and Drug Administration, two loons from Fyllas Banke near Nuuk and five eiders from Qeqertarsuaq are now examined for the presence of bird flu at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark on behalf of the State Serum Institute.
The study demonstrated the presence of highly pathogenic bird flu of the type H5N1 in the two loons. The fact that the virus is highly pathogenic means that the disease causes high mortality in birds.
- This is the first time highly pathogenic bird flu has been detected in Greenland. Fylla banke is an important wintering area for many seabirds from several different countries and it is uncertain where the two loons came from, writes naalakkersuisut.
The risk of humans contracting bird flu through infected birds is present with this H5N1 virus, but the risk is low. It also applies that infection with a virus will only in rare cases give rise to serious illness in humans.
However, Naalakkersuisut always encourages people to take appropriate precautions when handling dead or dead birds:
First time ever: Discovery of bird flu in Greenland
January 24, 2023 · 17:42 by Marie Kûitse Kristensen
Two loons in Fyllas Banke have been found to have highly pathogenic bird flu. It is the first time ever that this type of bird flu has been found in Greenland.
For the first time in Greenland, birds have been found to have highly pathogenic bird flu.
This is what Naalakkersuisut writes in a press release.
Last year, a number of self-dead eiders and loons were collected, after several people had observed increased mortality of birds in several places along Greenland's west coast.
In a collaboration between the Veterinary and Food Authority in Greenland, the Nature Institute of Greenland and the Danish Food and Drug Administration, two loons from Fyllas Banke near Nuuk and five eiders from Qeqertarsuaq are now examined for the presence of bird flu at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark on behalf of the State Serum Institute.
The study demonstrated the presence of highly pathogenic bird flu of the type H5N1 in the two loons. The fact that the virus is highly pathogenic means that the disease causes high mortality in birds.
- This is the first time highly pathogenic bird flu has been detected in Greenland. Fylla banke is an important wintering area for many seabirds from several different countries and it is uncertain where the two loons came from, writes naalakkersuisut.
The risk of humans contracting bird flu through infected birds is present with this H5N1 virus, but the risk is low. It also applies that infection with a virus will only in rare cases give rise to serious illness in humans.
However, Naalakkersuisut always encourages people to take appropriate precautions when handling dead or dead birds: