Is here an American elite university abusing the cute polar bear again? This may very well be the case.
How serious a disease is this particular influenza virus to animals like polar bears? Do the polar bears survive? Do they have chronic or lasting effects on polar bears?
It appears there no historical data available or the authors of this study did not mention it!
"Migrating birds that breed in the Arctic are spreading avian influenza to polar bears in eastern Greenland, according to a new study that found evidence of infections in bear blood samples acquired from Greenland Inuit subsistence hunters.
The results suggest that such emerging viruses may pose risks to Arctic mammals.
The Arctic is warming at faster rates than much of the rest of the planet – in the western Arctic, four times the global rate. As a result, threatened polar bears that hunt on dwindling sea ice are being forced to search for food elsewhere, which has likely increased their odds of exposure to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). ...
In 2026, in Svalbard, scientists reported a young polar bear died from HPAI after eating an infected walrus. ..."
Caveat: I did not read the entire study.
From the abstract:
"We detected influenza A virus antibodies in plasma collected from East Greenland polar bears during subsistence hunts in 2024 (3/14 [21%]) and 2025 (6/14 [43%]). Four bears from 2025 had antibodies for the globally emerging highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5 clade 2.3.4.4b, consistent with survival after exposure."
Evidence of Exposure to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5 Viruses in East Greenland Polar Bears
Mother polar bear and cubs in East Greenland. (photo taken from article)
Figure. Potential mechanisms of transmission for highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses to polar bears, including direct contact through mucosal or nasal secretions, scavenging dead birds or bird eggs, eating infected mammals, and mother-to-offspring transmission through lactation.
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