The Latest Breaking News from Connor Bamford

Fears for elephant seals as bird flu kills half of population in South Atlantic

Study estimates 53,000 females have died on South Georgia since 2023, with ‘dramatic impact’ on future of the species

The Guardian - UK · Nov 13, 2025

Bird flu sweeps through zoos with ‘grave implications’ for endangered animals

Call for additional precautions as captive species including lions, tigers and cheetahs are killed by virus

The Guardian - UK · Dec 19, 2024

Forgotten epidemic: with over 280 million birds dead how is the avian flu outbreak evolving?

New data reveals the virus has spread to endangered species in Antarctica – yet the H5N1’s risk to biodiversity, farming and human health is little explored

The Guardian - UK · Sep 4, 2024

Covid NI: Belfast virologist on new Omicron strain and what to expect this Christmas

"There are many other variants alongside BQ.1 that could come into play more over the mixing during Christmas"

Belfast Live · Dec 16, 2022

Latest Covid variant BQ1 resisting treatment for existing strains as expert 'concerned'

Virologist Connor Bamford said we "need to be a little bit concerned" about the new omicron variant known as BQ1, which seems to be immune to current Covid treatment

Daily Mirror · Dec 5, 2022

Latest Covid variant BQ1 evades treatment for existing strains as virologist raises concern

"I think we do need to be a little bit concerned about this"

Irish Mirror · Dec 4, 2022

Covid NI: Belfast virologist on the current wave and what to expect in the coming months

"Like we saw with Alpha and Omicron during the winters of 2020 and 21, we will very likely be talking about a new variant and wave come autumn time."

Belfast Live · Jul 16, 2022

Monkeypox symptoms: Northern Ireland records first case - but how dangerous is the virus?

Monkeypox has arrived on the island of Ireland - we look at its symptoms and how it is spread

Irish Mirror · May 26, 2022

Monkeypox outbreak: Belfast virologist answers key questions as first case recorded in NI

The first case of monkeypox was recorded in Northern Ireland on Thursday.

Belfast Live · May 25, 2022

New Omicron XE variant will 'most likely' become dominant strain in NI, GP says

Public health officials have confirmed that a small number of cases of the new Covid strain have been detected here

Belfast Live · Apr 19, 2022