Bird flu of the H5N5 subtype of the virus has reached polar bears in Norway. The confirmation was announced by the Norwegian Veterinary Institute, last Tuesday (20). It is the first case in a polar bear in Norway and Europe.
This type of virus had already appeared for the first time in 2022, in wild seabirds. Then in a walrus in 2023 and the most recent was in arctic foxes in 2025. This latest detection, in a polar bear, is the first in Europe. Contamination calls on specialists to understand whether there has been any change in the virus to contaminate bears.
The Norwegian Polar Institute issued the warning after a dead polar bear was found by local tour guides.
After analysis by researchers, avian influenza was detected in polar bear samples.
Much of the contamination occurs between birds. However, mammals can become infected through direct contact with infected birds or other infected animals, dead or alive.
To understand how dangerous the contamination information is, the Norwegian Veterinary Institute will carry out additional analyzes of the viral subtype detected, to assess whether the virus shows signs of adaptation to mammals.
Outside of Europe, avian influenza in polar bears has only been scientifically reported once before, in a young male polar bear found dead in Alaska in August 2023.
*Under the supervision of Thiago Félix
