Research of H5N1 avian flu seal deaths reveals a number of lineages Lisa Schnirring Avian Influenza (Chook Flu) Tim Sackton / Flickr cc Share Deaths of seals from H5N1 avian influenza in seals stranded on New England seashores final summer season stoked rising considerations concerning the susceptibility of mammals, together with people, to the virus, and now researchers have shared detailed genetic findings from each the seals and birds from the setting, noting a spread of virus lineages within the animals and a low species barrier.