UGA Study Reveals Rampant H5N1 Avian Flu Among Black Vultures, Raising Mutation Concerns
A recent study by University of Georgia (UGA) researchers has found that over 84% of dead black vultures examined tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1). The study, published in Nature’s Scientific Reports, indicates that black vultures' scavenging habits are sustaining the transmission of the virus beyond the typical bird flu season. Dr. Nicole Nemeth, lead author and head of UGA’s Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study’s research and diagnostic service, noted that the continuous cycle of disease within the vulture population is concerning. Researchers tested 134 dead black vultures from seven states in 2022 and 2023. The findings suggest that the actual impact of the virus on the species is likely much higher than currently known, potentially affecting hundreds of thousands of black vultures. This sustained transmission increases the opportunities for the virus to mutate, posing a potential threat to other species, including humans.
