Bird flu detected in walrus and polar bear on Svalbard

Last week, the Veterinary Institute received a report of a dead polar bear and a dead walrus, as well as two polar bears with lameness/paralysis in their hind legs, in Raudfjorden north on Spitsbergen. It was tourist guides in the area who first contacted the Norwegian Polar Institute about the observations.

The Governor notified the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, and it was decided that the Veterinary Institute would assist the Governor with field sampling, since rabies and highly pathogenic avian influenza virus could not be ruled out as the cause. The dead polar bear and the dead walrus were quickly found and sampled last Thursday, but no sick polar bears were observed from the air.

This is the first confirmed case of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI) in polar bears in Europe. No rabies virus was detected in the polar bear and walrus.

The polar bear was a one-year-old male, while the walrus was an adult. It was clear that the carcasses had been lying around for some time before they were found, but the findings of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in the brains of both animals are consistent with this being the most likely cause of death.

Consequences for humans
Most avian influenza viruses are best adapted to transmission between birds. Avian influenza is very rarely transmitted to humans, and the risk of transmission to humans is considered very low. As a precautionary principle, we recommend avoiding direct contact with sick or dead animals. 

Members of the public who discover dead animals or birds on Svalbard can report this to the Governor via the form "Report of dead animals and birds” on our website.