Bird flu has been found in king penguins on islands near Antarctica for the first time. 

British scientists working on the sub-Antarctic Islands of South Georgia said several individual penguins have tested positive for High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI).

This includes five king penguins from Will point, on the north east coast of the islands, and five gentoo penguins from nearby Bird Island.

Recent samples were collected from the islands and tested at an international laboratory back in the UK.

The islands, a British overseas territory, are a haven for wildlife and a popular spot for scientists researching the penguins, seals and seabirds who live there.

Dr Norman Ratcliffe, a bird ecologist at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), said: “The highly pathogenic form of bird flu has been present on South Georgia since October and we are surprised penguins have only just become infected, given their high nesting densities and proximity to other species that have been affected.

“The mortality this has caused for gentoo penguins has been localised and brief but we will continue to monitor the spread and impacts of the disease.”

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The cases detected in the penguins appear to be isolated, researchers believe, and there has not been a rapid spread through the penguin colonies.

Although bird flu continues to be detected in mammals, genetic sequence data analysed to date has indicated there is no increased risk to human health and the risk of human infection with H5N1 remains very low, the BAS said.

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