Norway has reported the first case of avian influenza in a polar bear in Europe.
The virus was detected in a dead 1-year-old male bear on the Svalbard archipelago, the Norwegian Veterinary Institute reported on Wednesday. The virus was also found in a dead adult walrus.
"These findings are part of a trend in which the bird flu virus is increasingly being detected in mammals across Europe," said Ragnhild Tønnessen of the Veterinary Institute, according to the statement.
At the same time, the virus has reportedly spread to new areas including the Arctic, where it could have an impact on endangered populations and ecosystems.
The avian influenza virus was detected in a polar bear for the first time in 2023 – in a young male in Alaska. The Norwegian Veterinary Institute says the animal now found in Spitsbergen was infected with the H5N5 subtype of the virus. This subtype had previously been detected in Spitsbergen not only in birds but also in a walrus and in Arctic foxes.
The avian influenza virus has already been found in many mammal species in Europe. In addition to cows and cats, various predator species ranging from mink, lynx and bears to seals have been affected.
Avian influenza has also been detected in a sheep in the UK. Although human infection with the virus is theoretically possible, it is rare.
