Highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) in marine mammals and seabirds in Peru

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A/H5N1 viruses (lineage 2.3.4.4b) are rapidly invading the Americas, threatening wildlife, poultry, and potentially evolving into the next global pandemic. In November 2022 HPAI arrived in Peru, triggering massive pelican and sea lion die-offs. We report genomic characterization of HPAI/H5N1 in five species of marine mammals and seabirds (dolphins, sea lions, sanderlings, pelicans and cormorants). Peruvian viruses belong to lineage 2.3.4.4b, but they are 4:4 reassortants where 4 genomic segments (PA, HA, NA and MP) position within the Eurasian lineage that initially entered North America from Eurasia, while the other 4 genomic segments (PB2, PB1, NP and NS) position…

• UD
  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• GA
  Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
• WC
  Wildlife Conservation Society
• UN
  Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos
• PU
  Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: 75N93021C00014, U01AI151814
• NI
  National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

  Awards: U01AI151814, 75N93021C00014
• UN
  U.S. National Library of Medicine