Bird flu has made the leap in species and is now killing baby seals. It would be a mutation of the avian influenza virus, which has now acquired the ability to also infect aquatic mammals and is causing a real massacre of seals, especially of pups, along the Atlantic American coasts of New England. This was revealed by researchers from the Center for Infection & Immunity (CII) of Columbia University in a study published in the specialized journal mBiorealizzata.
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him
Bird flu has made the leap of species and now kills the baby seals. It would be a mutation in the avian flu virus, which has now acquired the ability to also infect mammals aquatic and is causing a real one massacre of seals, especially of cubs, along the Atlantic American coasts of New England. The researchers of the Center for Infection & Immunity (CII) of Columbia University in a study published in the specialist journal mBiorealizzata.
The virus caused in animals fatal cases of pneumonia, ascertained until September 2011, when some specimens of seals appeared along the coasts from southern Maine to the northern ones of Massachusetts with symptoms of severe and skin injury. Most were puppies under six months old. After carrying out a careful screening of the pathogens, the researchers discovered the presence of the H3N8 virus, similar to an influenza A virus that has been circulating in North American ducks since 2002.
Among the mutations found in H3N8, there is also one possessed by the H5N1 virus, that of highly pathogenic avian influenza that has also affected humans. "Our results - said the director of the CII Ian Lipkin and the professor of epidemiology John Snow - underline the importance in wildlife surveillance to predict and prevent pandemics. AIDS, SARS, West Nile flu, and Nipah are all examples of emerging infectious diseases that originated in animals. Any disease outbreaks in domestic or wild animals as well as being considered one threat to the conservation of species they must also be evaluated for the potential danger to our species ".
Scientists, therefore, are very concerned about this potentially species leap also dangerous for humans, since the new mutation it can affect a protein of the respiratory system human. According to the most recent data from the World Health Organization released on 6 July, H5N1 has so far caused 358 deaths out of 607 cases worldwide, with a mortality of 59%. Also for this reason it is now important to carefully monitor the evolution of the H3N8 epidemic in seals, which are acting as "Incubator" of the virus among mammals.
Roberta Ragni
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