Study links black vultures to year-round H5N1 circulation

A University of Georgia study published in Scientific Reports found that 84% of 134 dead black vultures tested from seven states in 2022 and 2023 were positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1, adding to evidence that this scavenger species may help sustain virus circulation outside the usual seasonal pattern. Researchers said black vultures’ communal roosting and scavenging, including feeding on infected carcasses and sometimes other vultures, could support year-round transmission and make the true mortality burden far higher than documented cases suggest. The work was led by Nicole Nemeth and colleagues at UGA’s Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study. (news.uga.edu)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the findings sharpen concerns about H5N1 at the wildlife-domestic animal interface. Black vultures are widespread, often gather near farms, landfills, and carcass disposal sites, and have already been linked to notable mortality events in states including Maryland and Florida. If vultures are helping maintain virus circulation between migration peaks, that raises the stakes for wildlife surveillance, farm biosecurity, carcass management, and communication with pet parents who may encounter sick or dead birds. (news.maryland.gov)

What to watch: Expect more focus on scavenger surveillance, viral sequencing, and whether year-round circulation in black vultures changes risk assessments for poultry, wildlife rehabilitation, and spillover into other species. (news.uga.edu)