PL-2 - Plenary lecture 2

THE INVISIBLE MADE VISIBLE: AVIAN INFLUENZA VIRUS AND ITS IMPACT ON SOUTH AMERICAN MARINE WILDLIFE

Marcela Uhart

One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, United States
Contacto: muhart@ucdavis.edu

The recent incursion of H5N1 high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAIV H5N1) into South America´s marine ecosystems has marked a substantial shift in the dynamics of this disease. Originally associated with domestic birds in Asia, the virus has demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt—crossing species barriers, spreading globally, and affecting a wide range of hosts. Its capacity for transmission among certain mammal species reflects a concerning evolutionary plasticity with direct implications for public health.
In South America, its emergence has triggered unprecedented mass mortality events among marine birds and mammals, with significant consequences for species already threatened by various anthropogenic pressures. From both microbiological and ecological perspectives, HPAIV H5N1 represents a complex threat that undermines biodiversity conservation and the resilience of marine and coastal ecosystems.
In this context, it is essential to strengthen genomic surveillance of the virus, expand monitoring of affected wild and domestic populations, and promote interdisciplinary approaches under the One Health framework. This crisis has brought to light the fragility of ecological balances in the face of emerging pathogens with global expansion potential.