Younger said seals and sea lions\u00a0were vulnerable\u00a0to H5N1 because they gathered in large colonies that overlapped with seabirds infected with the virus. The environment itself, including the water and beaches, could also be contaminated with the virus.<\/p>\n
H5N1 can be transmitted from birds to seals or between seals.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the moment there\u2019s mass mortalities in birds and that infection will cause contamination of the environment,\u201d said Rachael Gray, a pinniped specialist at the University of Sydney\u2019s School of Veterinary Science.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce you get mammals infected, it\u2019s likely you will see mammal-to-mammal transmission, which is obviously of concern because that facilitates more rapid spread between [members of] a species.\u201d<\/p>\n
While there are no registered vaccines for treating H5 bird flu in mammals, the United States has undertaken experimental trials on a small number of seals.<\/p>\n
The SA government said last week it was investigating potential opportunities to vaccinate high-priority at-risk mammals, such as Australian sea lions at Seal Bay on Kangaroo Island.<\/p>\n
The Australian Marine Conservation Society said the arrival of bird flu in SA followed significant environmental harm caused by the algal bloom.<\/p>\n
Alexia Wellbelove, the society\u2019s campaigns director, said some species such as sea lions were in poorer condition because their food sources had been affected \u201cmeaning they are likely more vulnerable\u201d.<\/p>\n
Wellbelove said the organisation had been calling for increased funding to target other threats to the species, such as fishing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith reported mass mortality of terns and now the death of a long-nosed fur seal on the Pages [Islands] it is now highly likely that this vital population of Australian sea lions has also been exposed to the virus,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n