Researchers Discover Virus in Deceased Dolphin
Researchers at the University of Florida have identified a deceased dolphin with the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV). The study, published in the journal Communications Biology, marks the first recorded case of HPAIV infection in a cetacean in North America.
The dolphin stranded in a canal in Dixie County, Florida, in March 2022 and died shortly after rescuers arrived. The carcass was subsequently preserved and transported to the University of Florida for a necropsy, as reported by Newsweek on April 29.
Scientists initially did not suspect bird flu, but further analysis revealed health issues, including encephalitis and leptomeningeal disease, which have been observed in other wildlife infected with bird flu. In 2022, harbor seals and gray seals have also succumbed to the virus, some with neurological symptoms.
Spread of Bird Flu in Wildlife
Bird flu first emerged in North America in 2021 and has since spread among bird populations and other mammals. Scientists speculate that the virus may have made the jump to marine mammals like dolphins. However, it is unclear how the Florida dolphin contracted the infection, and further research is needed to gain a clearer understanding.
A global outbreak of bird flu began in 2020. Although the World Health Organization (WHO) considers the public health risk from bird flu to be low, the virus has killed millions of birds and other wildlife. Seals and sea lions have been the primary mammalian species affected by the disease so far.
In the United States, the disease has been particularly prevalent among marine mammals in Maine. It has also been detected in seals in Washington State and has spread rapidly in South America.