On Mar. 11, 2024, the British Antarctic Survey reported that penguins on the sub-Antarctic Islands of South Georgia had tested positive for Avian flu. This was the first time the virus had been detected in gentoo and king penguin populations on the islands. HPAI was first detected in brown skuas at Bird Island, South Georgia in October 2023.

In early 2024, cases were confirmed in populations of elephant seals and fur seals. Antarctic terns and wandering albatross later tested positive. However, effects of infection appeared to remain highly localised.