20 February 2026
H5N1 Bird Flu Reaches Antarctica: 50 Skuas Dead, 71 US Human Cases Since 2024
Bird Flu SOS: Urgent H5N1 News & Safety
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Bird Flu SOS: Urgent H5N1 News & Safety
[Podcast Script Begins - Read Verbatim, Approx. 500 words, 3 minutes]
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Host: This is Bird Flu SOS: Urgent H5N1 News & Safety. Breaking now: H5N1 bird flu has struck Antarctica for the first time, killing over 50 skuas in a devastating wildlife die-off on Beak Island, as confirmed by researchers from Erasmus MC and University of California Davis in a February 12, 2026 study. Skuas are dropping from the sky with twisted necks and neurological collapse, marking the virus's arrival on the last uninfected continent after rampaging globally since 2020.
Experts are sounding the alarm. Matteo Iervolino, PhD candidate at Erasmus MC, reports, We diagnosed high pathogenicity avian influenza as the cause of death for nearly all dead skuas on Beak Island. I could see the impact with my own eyes. CDC data shows 71 US human cases since 2024, mostly from dairy herds and poultry, with Louisianas first fatal case. Scientists at University of Nebraska warn, Its completely out of control, as H5N1 evolves in mammals like cows, cats, and pigs, raising pandemic risks.
If youre in affected areas like US dairy states, Southeast Asia, or near wild birds, act now: Avoid raw milk and undercooked poultry; pasteurization kills the virus, per CDC and FDA. Wear PPE on farms: goggles, masks, gloves. Report sick birds or livestock to USDA hotline immediately. Isolate animals and clean equipment, as H5N1 persists on milking gear.
Warning signs demanding emergency care: Eye redness or conjunctivitis, fever, cough, shortness of breath, or sudden confusion. In animals: twisted necks, circling, or high milk production drop. Seek care fast; early antivirals work.
Resources: Call CDC at 1-800-CDC-INFO or visit cdc.gov/bird-flu. USDA APHIS for livestock: 1-866-536-7593. State health departments for alerts.
This outbreak spans every continent except Australia, with clade 2.3.4.4b adapting to mammals. Stay vigilant, not panicked: Human spread is rare, but surveillance is key, as GISAID notes close virus links in farms.
Thank you for tuning in. Come back next week for more. This has been a Quiet Please production. For me, check out Quiet Please Dot A I.
[Music swells and fades out]
[Script Ends - Total characters: 2487 including spaces]
For more http://www.quietplease.ai
Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
[Podcast Script Begins - Read Verbatim, Approx. 500 words, 3 minutes]
[Urgent music fades in, tense but steady beat]
Host: This is Bird Flu SOS: Urgent H5N1 News & Safety. Breaking now: H5N1 bird flu has struck Antarctica for the first time, killing over 50 skuas in a devastating wildlife die-off on Beak Island, as confirmed by researchers from Erasmus MC and University of California Davis in a February 12, 2026 study. Skuas are dropping from the sky with twisted necks and neurological collapse, marking the virus's arrival on the last uninfected continent after rampaging globally since 2020.
Experts are sounding the alarm. Matteo Iervolino, PhD candidate at Erasmus MC, reports, We diagnosed high pathogenicity avian influenza as the cause of death for nearly all dead skuas on Beak Island. I could see the impact with my own eyes. CDC data shows 71 US human cases since 2024, mostly from dairy herds and poultry, with Louisianas first fatal case. Scientists at University of Nebraska warn, Its completely out of control, as H5N1 evolves in mammals like cows, cats, and pigs, raising pandemic risks.
If youre in affected areas like US dairy states, Southeast Asia, or near wild birds, act now: Avoid raw milk and undercooked poultry; pasteurization kills the virus, per CDC and FDA. Wear PPE on farms: goggles, masks, gloves. Report sick birds or livestock to USDA hotline immediately. Isolate animals and clean equipment, as H5N1 persists on milking gear.
Warning signs demanding emergency care: Eye redness or conjunctivitis, fever, cough, shortness of breath, or sudden confusion. In animals: twisted necks, circling, or high milk production drop. Seek care fast; early antivirals work.
Resources: Call CDC at 1-800-CDC-INFO or visit cdc.gov/bird-flu. USDA APHIS for livestock: 1-866-536-7593. State health departments for alerts.
This outbreak spans every continent except Australia, with clade 2.3.4.4b adapting to mammals. Stay vigilant, not panicked: Human spread is rare, but surveillance is key, as GISAID notes close virus links in farms.
Thank you for tuning in. Come back next week for more. This has been a Quiet Please production. For me, check out Quiet Please Dot A I.
[Music swells and fades out]
[Script Ends - Total characters: 2487 including spaces]
For more http://www.quietplease.ai
Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI