Investigating high pathogenicity avian influenza virus incursions to remote islands: detection of H5N1 on Gough Island in the South Atlantic Ocean.

ABSTRACT: Understanding the mechanisms underlying the emergence and spread of high pathogenicity avian influenza virus (HPAIV) is critical for tracking its global dissemination, particularly via migratory seabirds, given their role in transmission over long distances. Scavenging seabirds, such as skuas, may act as both reservoirs and vectors, and have been linked to multiple outbreaks since 2021. Here, we report the detection of HPAIV H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b in three Tristan skua (Stercorarius antarcticus hamiltoni) carcasses on Gough Island in the central South Atlantic Ocean. To investigate potential incursion routes, we combined genomic analyses with year-round tracking data from global location sensors. Although migratory movement patterns suggested southern Africa as the most obvious pathway

SUBMITTER: Steinfurth A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12927406 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature