Location of Seosan, South Korea
#19,397
While human infections get the bulk of our attention, the impact of HPAI H5 on avian and mammalian wildlife around the world is enormous and growing.
- Devastating outbreaks in marine mammals (see here, here, and here) have killed tens of thousands of seals, sea lions, and dolphins.
- Thousands of vultures, hawks, and falcons have succumbed to HPAI (see here, here, and here), including highly endangered California Condors.
- Felines, both wild and captive, are highly susceptible to the virus, with the USDA's Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Mammals dashboard lists more than 200 feline detections in the U.S. alone.
- Recent seroprevalence studies report a high incidence of infection among polar bears above the arctic circle (see Preprint: HPAI H5N5 in a Polar Bear and Atlantic Walrus, Svalbard, 2026, with Widespread Seroconversion in Polar Bears).
But most wildlife infections go unnoticed. Marine mammals die at sea, or on remote beaches, and are never recorded. When a massive die-off of birds occurs, no one counts the bodies. When an infected fox dies in the woods, the evidence is quickly erased by scavengers.
Australian citizens have reported over 70,000 suspected wildlife incidents over the past 5 months, yet only a tiny percentage have been investigated.
In the spring of 2025 South Korea reported their first mammalian wildlife infection with H5N1 in an endangered leopard cat. Today they report another wild leopard cat has succumbed to the virus.
While this is only the second such detection, it is clear from this report they are taking it seriously, as is evidenced by their extensive guidance to the public.
(Translated . . .)
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) detected in a wild leopard cat in Seosan, South Chungcheong Province… Surveillance and disease control measures strengthened2026.11.02 15:30:08 Quarantine Policy Bureau Avian Influenza Prevention Division
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs ( Minister Song Mi-ryeong ) and the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment ( Minister Kim Sung-hwan ) announced on November 2 that the H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) virus was detected as a result of a detailed examination conducted by the National Wildlife Disease Control Center on the carcass of a wild mammal, a leopard cat * , found on October 23 near Ganwol Lake in Buseok-myeon, Seosan-si, Chungcheongnam-do, following a report by a local visitor .
* Class II Endangered Species, primarily feeds on rodents and birds ( home range approx . 10–20 km² )
This is the second time that highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) virus has been detected in a wild mammal in Korea since it was first detected in a wild leopard cat in Hwasun, South Jeolla Province in March 2025 , and the first time this winter .
Meanwhile, the National Wildlife Disease Control Center, an agency under the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, has been investigating whether wild mammals * secured through wildlife rescue centers , resident reports, and surveillance of major migratory bird habitats nationwide are infected with avian influenza (AI) .
Carnivorous and omnivorous mammals such as raccoons , weasels , badgers , wildcats , otters , martens , seals , and finless porpoises
※ Avian Influenza (AI) testing on 245 wild mammal samples from January to October 2026
The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment is implementing response measures in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for Avian Influenza (AI) in wild mammals established following the case of infection in a wildcat in Hwasun-gun last year , and is strengthening cooperation with relevant agencies to reduce the risk of infection between wild animals , poultry , and humans .
As soon as highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) was confirmed, the situation was shared with relevant agencies , including the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, and special surveillance was carried out in areas within a 10km radius of the detection site , including searching for dead wild mammals and conducting detailed on-site investigations , and emergency quarantine measures, such as on-site disinfection and access control, were requested from competent local governments, including Seosan City .
In addition , viral gene analysis is performed to identify the characteristics and origin of the infecting virus , and to investigate whether there is additional infection to surrounding wild animals and the possibility of transmission .
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs implemented emergency quarantine measures, such as surveillance and inspection , to prevent the spread to poultry farms within the quarantine zone ( 10km radius ) , and took measures to thoroughly clean and disinfect the interior and exterior of farms , facilities , and vehicles to preemptively block risk factors for the transmission of avian influenza .
Designation and operation of wild bird surveillance areas in accordance with the Avian Influenza Prevention and Control Guidelines
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency ( Chungcheong Region Disease Response Center ) and local governments, including South Chungcheong Province, have stated that they are continuing to monitor the health status of field response personnel, including those who discovered the wildcat and rescue center staff, taking into account the virus's incubation period (10 days) to prevent human infection , and that there have been no suspected cases to date .
In addition , the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment provided the following information to the public to prevent the transmission and spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) .
First , you should refrain from visiting wildlife habitats, such as migratory bird sanctuaries, as much as possible . If you must visit, you should avoid contact with wild animals and be careful not to step on feces or bodily fluids . Furthermore , you should strictly observe personal hygiene rules, such as disinfecting shoes and vehicles and washing your hands after returning home, and avoid entering livestock farms .
In addition , even if you discover dead wild birds or mammals, or wild animals exhibiting abnormal behavior, do not touch or move them directly, but report them immediately to the competent local government so that the National Wildlife Disease Control Center can conduct avian influenza (AI) testing promptly .
※ Report to the relevant city , county , or district environmental department via the Government Civil Complaint Information Call Center (110 ) or the competent local government ( area code + 120 ) .
Livestock farm officials must strictly adhere to basic disease prevention guidelines, such as prohibiting entry to migratory bird habitats , controlling the entry of outside people and vehicles, and disinfecting the inside and outside of the farm daily. In addition , if suspected symptoms of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI), such as the death of more poultry than usual, are confirmed , they must immediately report to the disease control authorities (1588-4060/9060) .
Lee Chae-eun, Director General of Nature Conservation at the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, stated, “ As highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) has been confirmed in wild mammals, specifically leopard catesses, again this year following last year, we will strengthen surveillance and inspections to closely investigate whether there are any additional infections in wild animals , and we will do our best to ensure the safety of field response personnel and the public . ” She added , “ We also ask the public to report any dead wild animals immediately without direct contact if they find them . ”
Lee Dong-sik , Director General of the Quarantine Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, stated, “ With highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) confirmed in wild mammals ( leopard cats ) following wild birds, the risk of outbreaks has significantly increased as the related virus has entered poultry farms. ” He urged poultry farm officials to “ strictly adhere to basic quarantine rules , such as spraying rodenticides , ensuring the safe storage of carcasses, controlling the entry of outside people and vehicles, and disinfecting the inside and outside of the farm daily, to prevent wild animals from entering the farm . ”
A little over 3 years ago, in Avian Flu's New Normal: When the Extraordinary Becomes Ordinary, I wrote about the numbing effect that comes with the constant barrage of HPAI H5 reports from around the world.
Events that were nearly unthinkable four or five years ago (see Preprint: Mass mortality of southern elephant seals during multi-species outbreak of HPAI H5N1 on sub-Antarctic Heard Island) have now become `the new normal'.
While we may have become inured to these happenings, that doesn't make them any less impactful to our shared global ecosystem. What future challenges may arise from these continued viral insults to non-human species is difficult to predict.
But given our largely passive response to avian flu, we appear on track to find out.