Beaches become mass graves as bird flu decimates Pelicans in Peru
An estimated 13% of Peru’s pelican population has been killed
Samuel Webb
2 hours ago
A new bird flu variant has killed nearly 17,000 pelicans has turned beaches in Peru into mass graves.
The outbreak has led to the temporary closure of beaches to locals and tourists as health and agricultural workers disinfect and bury the birds – an estimated 13% of the country’s entire population.
The H5N1 variant attacks the nervous system and causes infected birds to lose coordination, prevents them from flying, causes them to swim in circles, and become oblivious to their surroundings.
Peruvians have been warned to keep their distance from dead and ill birds.
"This virus has the ability to mutate [recurring possibility], therefore, it is important not to get close to birds to prevent it from passing to humans," Leslie Soto told Exitosa.
More:
https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/peru-pelicans-bird-flu-b2241595.html
