The spread of avian bird flu, particularly the H5N1 strain, has become a significant concern for both the wildlife and the people wanting to visit this incredible region of the world.
However, through stringent biosecurity measures, collaboration with scientific communities, and raising awareness among travelers, Antarctic cruise operators are taking significant steps to mitigate the risk.
Protecting Antarctica’s fragile ecosystem requires a concerted and sustained effort, but with careful management and responsible tourism practices, it is possible to safeguard this unique part of our planet.
For people worried about how much the avian bird flu will affect their trip, then please do not worry. I have travelled to Antarctica twice since the beginning of this pandemic and it really has not impacted my experience at all in a negative way. So long as you follow guidelines, you will have a great time.
So, how will avian bird flu affect your cruise expereince to the White Continent?
Pre and post landing requirements:
To prevent the transmission of pathogens, passengers must decontaminate their clothing and gear before and after shore landings.
The first step that is required is that all bags, clothes and camera gear must be vacuumed and gone over with a fine tooth pick (sometimes literally) to remove any seeds or bits of dirt that can be found. This is to stop the transmission of the flu. This procedure can certainly be a bit tiresome and long-winded, but it is worth it to keep the wildlife safe.
Prior to each landing, visitors are also required to disinfect their boots by stepping into a container of Virkon or something similar. Guests are also required to do this when they get back on the ship.
This way, the only thing that will be touching land has been disinfected. From my own experience, this takes less than 1 minute and is not a big hassle at all.
Wildlife watching restrictions:
Before avian flu became a threat in Antarctica, tourists could watch penguins from a 5 metre distance with the hope that a penguin may approach them further. However, since the influx of avian flu, this is no longer possible.
Whilst the 5-metre rule still applies, visitors are asked to always stay 5 metres away, even if the wildlife approaches you. It is imperative that there is no contact between wildlife and humans during this avian flu crisis.
Visitors are also no longer allowed to sit or kneel on the ground. In fact, you can’t even put your bag on the ground. This is because it is only your boots that have been disinfected prior to going on land. I have found this new rule to be a slight nuisance for photographers especially when changing lenses. You really need to plan ahead what you will need and what lenses you want in your bag and how easily accessible they are whilst standing.
Passengers are supervised by guides during shore excursions to ensure compliance of the new regulations. Although it can be diffcult to remember, these measures help reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to vulnerable bird populations.
Despite these changes, visitors can still get stunningly close to the Antarctic wildlife and the overall experience has not changed in such a way as to impact visitors heavily.
Working with scientists:
Many cruise operators are working closely with scientific communities and conservation organizations to monitor the health of wildlife populations. This collaboration includes conducting health assessments of bird colonies and sharing data with researchers to track the spread of avian flu.
Prior to all landings, members of the expedition team will go ashore and scout the area for any signs of bird flu. If any birds are found to be sick or dead, the team will not conduct a landing in the area. Instead, they will report their findings to the relevant bodies for further research.
Follow the guidelines:
As with most things, following the guidelines is paramount. This is especially true when visiting such a fragile and unique ecosystem.
Your expedition team will take you through all of the new requirements and will help you maintain them throughout your Antarctic cruise. There will be educational videos prior to arriving and advice from your expedition leader.
Please follow the guidelines to keep the spread of bird flu to a minimum. This way the pandemic will hopefully end sooner rather than later and we can keep on enjoying this incredible destination.
