Bird flu detected in California elephant seals for first time
Newsy
The avian flu has been identified for the first time in northern elephant seals at Año Nuevo State Park in California, researchers said.
The avian flu has been identified for the first time in northern elephant seals at Año Nuevo State Park in California, researchers said.
Dead elephant seal pups were observed on Feb. 19 and 20. Live pups were also seen with tremors and seizure activity, prompting researchers from the University of California, Santa Cruz and the University of California, Davis to collect samples for testing.
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory confirmed the virus as H5N1, a strain of highly pathogenic avian flu.
Researchers say the outbreak was quickly identified due to increased surveillance efforts. They say scientists have been screening seabirds and elephant seals along the California coast since 2024 due to concerns about the spread of H5N1.
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