Overview

• Bird flu has caused the deaths of over 900 seals and sea lions in southern Brazil, raising concerns about the virus jumping to humans.
• The virus, H5N1, has been detected in harbor seals in Puget Sound, Washington, and has led to the culling of over 60 million poultry birds in the United States.
• In response to the outbreak, France has begun a vaccination campaign for its domestic duck population, aiming to vaccinate about 60 million ducks over the next year.
• The United States and Canada have imposed restrictions on French poultry imports, citing concerns that a vaccinated duck might not show symptoms while still carrying the flu across their borders.
• Brazil's Agriculture Ministry has reported 148 bird flu outbreaks in the country, mostly along the coast, and has declared a health emergency to contain the disease.