COPENHAGEN, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- The highly pathogenic bird flu virus H5N1 has recently been detected at the autopsy of several seals found dead in Danish waters, the Danish Statens Serum Institut (SSI) said in a press release on Monday.

The mammals, presumed to have died over a short period, were discovered in late August on the water's edge at Avnoe, a coastal nature reserve 102 kilometers southwest of the capital Copenhagen.

The University of Copenhagen and the SSI are actively investigating the discovery.

Tests have been conducted on both the seals and a deceased mute swan found nearby. Both tested positive for the H5N1 virus, according to the press release.

Collaborative studies between the University of Copenhagen and the SSI are underway to closely identify the virus.

"Bird flu has caused great mortality among wild birds since the end of 2020," senior researcher Charlotte Hjulsager from the SSI said.

Professor of Virology Lars E. Larsen from the University of Copenhagen has warned that mutations could make the virus more dangerous.

"When bird flu viruses jump from birds to mammals, we have indications that viruses mutate so that they become better at infecting mammals," he said.

Nevertheless, the risk to humans is assessed as low to moderate by the European Center for Disease Control (ECDC).

Avian influenza has previously been found in mammals in Denmark, including in two harbor seals in 2021 and in four foxes in 2022.

Authorities are urging the public to exercise caution and report findings of dead wild birds via the "Avian Influenza Tip" app. Enditem

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