澳大利亚政府决定从麦夸里岛撤离全部24名科考人员，以保护他们免受H5N1禽流感爆发的心理伤害1。然而科学家警告，这一举措将严重破坏对该岛屿野生动物的长期监测工作，特别是对濒危象海豹种群的研究1。麦夸里岛的科研工作已持续超过70年1，撤离决定意味着无法继续获取关键的病毒样本和疫情数据1。
H5N1禽流感在南极地区的威胁日益显现。赫德岛疫情期间超过13,000头象海豹幼崽死亡1，而象海豹种群本身已面临严峻困境——麦夸里岛的繁殖种群从1949年的9,400下降至2023年的2,5501，南乔治亚岛监测地点的繁殖种群也下降近50%1。科学家已在六个南极和次南极地点收集了104个新的病毒基因组1，但撤离决定将中断这一重要的监测网络。
其他南极次南极岛屿的国家已通过加强防护措施成功维持科研监测工作1。世界卫生组织建议采取准备、培训和专业心理支持等措施，而非完全撤离1。
The Australian government has decided to evacuate all 24 expedition members from Macquarie Island, citing protection from the psychological impact of an H5N1 bird flu outbreak 1. This decision comes as scientists warn of severe consequences for long-term wildlife monitoring on the island, particularly for endangered fur seal populations that depend on continuous data collection and virus sampling 1.
The timing of the withdrawal is especially concerning given the documented devastation bird flu has caused to fur seal populations across the Southern Ocean. On Heard Island, more than 13,000 fur seal pups died during an H5N1 outbreak 1. At Macquarie Island itself, the breeding population of fur seals has declined dramatically from 9,400 in 1949 to 2,550 in 2023 1. South Georgia Island has experienced a breeding population decline of nearly 50 percent 1. The evacuation will prevent researchers from gathering critical epidemiological data that could help understand and mitigate the virus's impact on these vulnerable species.
Other nations managing Antarctic and sub-Antarctic islands have maintained their scientific monitoring operations through enhanced protective measures rather than complete evacuation 1. Scientists have already collected 104 new viral genomes from six Antarctic and sub-Antarctic sites, demonstrating the value of continued fieldwork 1. The World Health Organization recommends preparation, training, and professional psychological support as alternatives to full withdrawal 1. Macquarie Island's research program has operated continuously for over 70 years 1, making the interruption particularly disruptive to understanding long-term ecological changes in this remote region.
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