Migratory birds share bird flu with polar bears in Greenland

 

Photo and headline:  Iceland Monitor, 10/16/2026

Krishna Ramanujan reports:

Migrating birds that breed in the Arctic are spreading avian influenza to polar bears in eastern Greenland, according to a new study that found evidence of infections in bear blood samples acquired from Greenland Inuit subsistence hunters. 

The results suggest that such emerging viruses may pose risks to Arctic mammals. 

The Arctic is warming at faster rates than much of the rest of the planet—in the western Arctic, four times the global rate. As a result, threatened polar bears that hunt on dwindling sea ice are being forced to search for food elsewhere, which has likely increased their odds of exposure to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

Other European bird flu posts:

October 2026

Iceland reports prevalence of bird flu in wild birds.  (10/19)

Hungary reports 3 more cases of Newcastle disease in chicken flocks.  (10/16)

Five European countries report cases of bird flu.  (10/14)

Hungary and Spain report cases of Newcastle disease.  (10/9)

Hungary reports 4th case of Newcastle disease in September.  (10/2)

September 2026

Hungary and Spain report cases of Newcastle disease.  (9/1(0

Poland reports case of Newcastle disease.  (9/15)

France and Bulgaria report cases of bird flu.  (9/11)

August 2026

Spain reports  cases of Newcastle disease.  (8/8)

UPDATE:  Newcastle disease in Europe. (8/5) 

Europe bird flu update from WATT Poultry.  (8/4)

July 2026

Spain reports 2 more cases of Newcastle disease.  (7/23=)

Long-term effects of bird flu on Gannet colonies in Scotland and Wales.  (7/4)

Spain reports 3 new cases of Newcastle Disease.  (7/3)

June 2026

France poultry news:  If its not bird flu killing chickens, its a monster heat wave. (6/26)

Sweden reports outbreak of bird flu.  (6/20)

Hatching eggs from Germany denied access into U.S. at Cincinnati Port of Entry due to bird flu concerns.  (6/14)

Germany reports 10 poultry flocks infected with Newcastle disease.  (6/11)

Multiple bird flu outbreaks in Poland.  (6/6)

May 2026

The Netherlands reports case of bird flu after a lull period.  (5/16)

Spain and Poland reports cases of Newcastle Disease.  (5/14)

France and Poland report outbreaks of bird flu.  (5/13)

Last week France eased bird flu restrictions. This week it reports 2 new outbreaks.  (5/1)

April 2026

Clinical trial of bird flu vaccine underway in United Kingdom.  (4/28)

With number of bird flu outbreaks decreasing, Netherlands drops housing order.  (4/26)

36 poultry farms in Poland have reported outbreaks of bird flu so far this month.  (4/22)

Germany, Spain, and Poland report additional cases of Newcastle disease

First human case of avian influenza reported in the European Union (Italy).  (4/13)

RSPB Bird and Wildlife Conservation Charity in United Kingdom recommends taking down bird feeders this summer.  (4/11)

Scotland bird flu news:  Bass Rock gannet population falls by almost a third since bird flu outbreak. (4/3)

Germany and Poland report multiple cases of Newcastle disease in poultry.  (4/1)

March 2026

23,000 pheasants depopulated in United Kingdom as result of bird flu outbreak.  (3/6)

February 2026

Bird flu likely cause of death of 24 swans in London.  (2/23)

Bird flu makes a return engagement to Poland and Hungary.  (2/10)

January 2026

10 European countries report 78 cases of bird flu during first 4 weeks of 2026.  (1/30)

11 European counties confirm cases of bird flu in since the start of the year.  (1/20)

Newcastle Disease, another highly contagious viral disease affecting birds, hit 4 flocks in Spain.  (1/12)

December 2025

Bird flu outbreaks continue apace in Europe.  (12/31)

Europe continues to deal with outbreaks of avian flu.  (12/24)

United Kingdom avian flu tally reaches 73 during 2025-26 season.  (12/22)

2025 avian flu tally in Europe:  654 outbreaks in 23 countries.  (12/17)

Patterns of avian flu outbreaks in Europe:  From farm to farm then, from wild birds to farms now.  (12/12)

November 2025

Widespread outbreaks of avian flu in Europe.  (11/17)

Avian flu taking a toll in Germany.  (11/13)

]5 swans die of avian flu in Bristol, England.  (11/11)

Germany reports 66 cases of avian flu since October 1.  (11/10)