Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Suspected in penguins and shags on the Antarctic Peninsula and West Antarctic Coast

Suspected cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) were detected in Adélie penguins and Antarctic shags at the southernmost latitude so far in Antarctica, at two breeding sites out of 13 visited, using highly specific PCR assay. These first records mark the progression of the H5N1 panzootic into Antarctica.