Mass Mortality of Marine Mammals Associated to Highly Pathogenic Influenza Virus (H5N1) in South America

Abstract

ABSTRACT We report a massive mortality of more than 3,000 sea lions ( Otaria flavescens ) of Peru associated with a Highly Pathogenic Influenza Virus (H5N1). The transmission pathway of H5N1 may have been through the close contact of sea lions with infected wild birds. We cannot rule out direct transmission among sea lions.