Deadly virus outbreak jumps hundreds of miles across California to infect more victims

A deadly virus that has rampaged across Northern California has now made to the leap to the south of the state, officials have warned.

Dozens of cases of avian flu were detected in Ano Nuevo State Park near Santa Cruz last month, killing 47 elephant seals and infecting 27 others. It has also spread to a sea otter.

Now experts at UC Davis have found a case of the HPAI H5N1 strain in a sea lion that was found washed up on a beach near San Luis Obispo, about two hours north of Santa Barbara.

A spokesman said: “Juvenile sea lions are known to forage along the central California coast traveling as far south as the primary sea lion breeding colonies on the Channel Islands.

“Researchers are continuing to monitor marine mammal populations all along the coast.” The pup, which was either one or two years old was found on Morro Strand State Beach on Thursday, authorities said.

Experts from the Central California Marine Animal Response Team, assessed the animal and confirmed it was avian flu.

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A statement from the team said: “This is the first report of HPAI in a marine mammal from San Luis Obispo County.”

They were quick to add the risk to humans was low but still warned not to approach a sick or dead animal lying on the beach.

Last month the highly pathogenic avian flu ripped across the Bay Area, leaving a trail of carcasses and forced state officials to lock down one of the most popular destinations.

Patrick Robinson, director of the Año Nuevo reserve, said: “They were certainly not expecting to see a sea otter.”

He described a grim daily routine of discovering at least two dead and two infected animals every day.

The park was forced to cancel its famous guided tours and officials warned the public the virus had spread to parts of public beaches.