An outbreak of avian influenza, which began in 2020, has been wreaking havoc on seals and sea lions across the globe, leading to the deaths of tens of thousands of marine mammals. The virus, which has already caused the deaths of millions of domesticated birds, has now spread to wildlife populations worldwide, causing economic turmoil and environmental disruptions.
Seals and sea lions in various regions, from Maine to Chile, have been particularly vulnerable to the disease. In the U.S., the virus has been detected in seals on both the east and west coasts, resulting in the deaths of over 300 seals in New England and a smaller number in Puget Sound, Washington. The situation is even more dire in South America, where more than 20,000 sea lions and thousands of elephant seals have succumbed to the virus in Chile, Peru, and Argentina.
