Sea lion deaths exploding in Peru amid deadly bird flu outbreak

() — Thousands of sea lions have died in Peru amid an outbreak of bird flu, according to Peru’s National Service for State Protected Areas (Sernanp).

Bird flu, also known as H5N1, has spread to multiple species in the country. In late November 2022, an initial outbreak among birds was reported for the first time along the Peruvian coast.

The Sernanp has now reported at least 63,000 birds killed by the virus, as well as a growing number of deaths in other species.

According to the agency, at least 3,487 sea lions have died from the virus, more than 3% of Peru’s sea lion population. There have also been five deaths of sea lions related to bird flu.

“What we remember initially starting with pelicans last year is now affecting these marine mammals,” Peruvian veterinarian Javier Jara told Reuters.

Peruvian authorities are urging citizens to avoid physical contact with wild animals, dead or alive.

Bird flu has also infected record numbers of birds and some mammals across the United States.

Since the end of 2022, scientists have detected this virus in more than 100 species of wild birds such as ducks, gulls, geese, hawks and owls in the US, where cases have also been identified among bears, foxes, bobcats, raccoons and dolphins.

There have also been a handful of human cases. The director-general of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, declared last month that the risk to humans remains low, but added: “we cannot take for granted that it will continue to be so.”

— Previous reporting by Jen Christensen.