"Deadly H5N1 Bird Flu Claims First Penguins in Antarctic"

At least one king penguin is suspected to have died from the highly contagious H5N1 bird flu virus in the Antarctic, marking the first known case of the deadly strain affecting this species in the wild. Researchers fear the disease could devastate entire penguin colonies during breeding season, with additional cases suspected among gentoo penguins on South Georgia island. The virus has already caused mass deaths of seabirds and marine mammals in the region, posing a significant threat to the fragile Antarctic ecosystem.