'This is unlikely to be an isolated event': 1st polar bear death from bird flu spells trouble for species

First case of a polar bear dying from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was recently recorded in Alaska .

Experts believe the bear contracted the virus from infected birds it was scavenging on.

H5N1 was first identified in China in 1996 and since then outbreaks have been recorded across the planet.

The wider significance of the polar bear case is unclear.