27 Feb 2024

Deadly avian flu detected on Antarctic mainland

From Nights, 10:18 pm on 27 February 2024

The deadly H5N1 avian influenza strain, also know as bird flu, is one step closer to arriving on our shores after it was detected on the Antarctic mainland at the weekend.

It has already killed millions of animals globally and there are fears it could pose a real threat to Aotearoa's endangered bird life.

Professor Jemma Geoghegan from the University of Otago's virology team joins Emile Donovan.

Chickens at a poultry farm in the Netherlands (2005)

Bird flu is spread between birds and from birds to humans. Photo: AFP