A severe strain of H5N1 (bird flu) is circulating through wild birds, mainly in the northern hemisphere but will probably migrate to the southern hemisphere. This version of bird flu appears to have originated in intensive poultry production areas.

It's particularly bad for seabirds because they have low reproductive rates. That means that they are likely to take a long time to recover.

Its particularly concerning for the seabirds because theyre being impacted already by fisheries, climate change, disturbance and other threats, says Stuart Butchart at the non-profit BirdLife International.

People are advised not to touch birds who appear to have does from the disease.