MikeDunnAuthorThe Ano Nuevo pinniped outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza has spread from Santa Cruz County to sea lions in San Luis Obispo, and to birds in Point Reyes. At least 47 elephant seals have died so far.
In the Southern Hemisphere, the disease wreaked havoc in 2022-2023. In Peru and Chile, over 30,000 sea lions died between 2022 and 2023. H5N1 wiped out 97% of the elephant seal pups at Peninsula Valdés, the largest mortality event ever recorded for the species.
There have been nearly 1000 human infections with H5N1 since 2003, with a case fatality rate of 48%. While this is an alarmingly high mortality rate, it is most likely biased due to the fact that asymptomatic and mild infections are much less likely to be reported. Nevertheless, the actual mortality rate, should the disease evolve the ability to spread easily from person to person, could be significantly higher than that of Covid.
https://www.sfgate.com/centralcoast/article/virus-bay-area-california-22158465.php
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20251105-the-impossible-decline-of-the-southern-elephant-seal
Giuseppe Michieli
Categorical Imperative
Ivi Choc
Ivi Choc
Betty C. Jung
Noticias Ind. Chile