{"id":658745,"date":"2026-03-16T02:53:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T02:53:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/658745\/"},"modified":"2026-03-16T02:53:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T02:53:13","slug":"bird-flu-outbreak-in-california-bay-area-elephant-seals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/658745\/","title":{"rendered":"Bird flu outbreak in California Bay Area elephant seals"},"content":{"rendered":"

A terrifying outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is ripping through California\u2019s Bay Area<\/a>, leaving a trail of carcasses and forcing state officials to lock down one of the region\u2019s most popular wildlife destinations.<\/p>\n

The carnage began at A\u00f1o Nuevo State Park, roughly 50 miles south of San Francisco, where a strain of H5N1 bird flu has decimated the local elephant seal population. What started as a handful of deaths exploded into a full-blown crisis<\/a>, with at least 47 elephant seals confirmed dead.<\/p>\n

Scientists are sounding the alarm after the pathogen was detected in a California sea lion and southern sea otter.<\/p>\n

\"TwoAn elephant seal pup, right, rests next to female elephant seals on a beach at A\u00f1o Nuevo State Park. AP<\/p>\n

They were \u201ccertainly not expecting to see a sea otter,\u201d Patrick Robinson, director of the A\u00f1o Nuevo reserve, said at a press conference on Thursday. He described a grim daily routine of discovering at least two dead and two infected animals every day. <\/p>\n

The park has been forced to cancel its famous guided tours and officials have warned the public that the virus has spread to parts of public beaches<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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The specific strain, identified as A3<\/a>, was first tracked in Eurasia in 2022 before making its way across the Pacific Flyway. While it previously ravaged fur seal colonies in Russia, this marks the first time this deadly variant has hit the Pacific coast.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not just mammals in the crosshairs. Western gulls, common murres, and Brandt\u2019s cormorants are dropping in droves, while the local peregrine falcon population is reportedly taking a hit due to the same relentless strain.<\/p>\n

\"ElephantElephant seals rest on a beach at A\u00f1o Nuevo State Park, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. AP<\/p>\n

While health officials are urging the public to keep their distance, the risk to humans remains low.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile the risk to the general public remains very low and there\u2019s no evidence of seal-to-human transmission, to limit the potential transmission to humans we are asking the general public to avoid contact with sick or dead animals, including marine mammals and birds,\u201d Dr. Catherine Sallenave,\u00a0an infectious disease specialist in San Mateo County, said. <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd we\u2019re reminding people to keep their pets on a leash while on the beach and not approach wild animals.\u201d<\/p>\n

For now, the message to Bay Area beach goers is simple: Stay away from the seals and sick animals.<\/p>\n

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