The virus has mainly been found in foxes, stone martens and polecats. This is the same virus version that has also been found in birds. Wild animals may have contracted the virus by eating infected birds.
Some animals examined have been found dead. Other animals had been captured to protect birds and then killed. Animals that had died from injury were also examined. The researchers do not explain this further, but it could be that they were hit by a car, for example.
Some animals examined were “apparently healthy”, but turned out to be infected. The scientists therefore believe “that a large proportion of wild meat eaters are infected, but remain out of the picture in current control programs”. The scientists recommend keeping a closer eye on these animals.
Not all infected meat eaters showed symptoms of bird flu. “Carnivorous animals that do not show abnormal behavior or encephalitis may also be highly infected. Infection does not always lead to death,” the researchers conclude.
