Polar Bear Dies from Bird Flu as H5N1 Spreads Across Globe

In a rare and concerning discovery, a polar bear was found deceased in Alaska due to what appears to be an instance of bird flu, marking the first recorded case of its kind. The bear was found in Utqiagvik, an area significantly impacted by the ongoing global outbreak. The confirmation of this death was made in December by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation.

"This is the first reported case of a polar bear being affected anywhere," shared Dr. Bob Gerlach, Alaska's state veterinarian, in an interview with the Alaska Beacon.

However, Dr. Gerlach suggests that the bear may not have contracted the illness directly from consuming an infected bird. "If a bird succumbs to this virus, especially in a cold environment, the virus can linger in the surroundings for some time," he explained.

Over the past couple of years, as avian flu has affected more wild birds, various other animals such as dolphins, porpoises, seals, foxes, and otters have also fallen ill. Known as H5N1, this virus poses a significant risk to humans, particularly those in contact with poultry.

The polar bear's demise underscores the unusually persistent and lethal impact of this strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza on wild animal populations, even two years after it arrives in North America, according to officials.

"We're navigating uncharted territory with this current situation. There's no playbook for this," mentioned Andy Ramey, a wildlife geneticist and avian influenza expert from the US Geological Survey.

Polar bears are classified as "vulnerable" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list of endangered species, primarily due to the declining sea ice, posing additional threats to their habitat and survival.