TikTok star Emmanuel the emu stricken with deadly bird flu

Months after becoming a global sensation, a TikTok star’s life has been cut short by a highly infectious virus.

Emmanuel the emu who became an internet sensation is stricken with avian flu. Picture: Twitter

Emmanuel, the nosy emu who took the internet by storm after videos of him pecking his owner’s phone as she tried to film about farming went viral, has been struck down with a serious case of avian bird flu.

Emmanuel’s caretaker, Taylor Blake, revealed the big bird’s serious condition over the weekend, just months after the pair had flown to stardom on TikTok.

Emmanuel the emu who became an internet sensation is stricken with avian flu. Picture: Twitter

“We lost every single chicken and duck on our farm. We lost all of our geese. We lost our 2 female black swans. We lost both of our turkeys,” Blake tweeted, adding three other emus also died.

“We lost 50+ birds in three days. I am still trying to wrap my head around it. We thought we were out of the woods, when Emmanuel unexpectedly went down this past Wednesday.”

I am trying my best to remain hopeful, tap into my unwavering faith, and trust that God is in control. I am also doing my best to remain thankful in the face of loss, for I have so much to be grateful for❤️ Thank you for reading. pic.twitter.com/z0ozJ1yWCO

— eco sister (@hiitaylorblake) October 15, 2022

I love you so much, Emmanuel😭 pic.twitter.com/MK3uDQUhTZ

— eco sister (@hiitaylorblake) October 16, 2022

Emmanuel has more than two million TikTok fans, largely due to his hilarious attacks on Blake’s mobile phone while she attempts to make videos about farm life.

Blake’s “Emmanuel, don’t do it!” catchcry became a global sensation this year, prompting appearances on US talk shows including the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and a range of merchandise.

Emmanuel with his caretaker Taylor Blake. Picture: Twitter

Blake said she has been caring for Emmanuel around the clock since last Wednesday with the help of a vet who sedated and stabilised him. She posted a series of photos of herself trying to nurse the ailing emu back to health.

Emmanuel Todd Lopez crushing his morning physical therapy!!🫶🏻 pic.twitter.com/SMOmG7t5sT

— eco sister (@hiitaylorblake) October 16, 2022

“Currently, he is stable. His neurological symptoms have subsided but he still won’t eat or drink on his own. I am hand feeding him and giving him subcutaneous fluids every two hours around the clock,” she said.

“The issue we are having is he has a bit of nerve damage in his right leg and foot, he went down in the middle of the night and we didn’t know until the next morning. He spent hours lying on one side and it’s caused some damage.”

Blake said that she had been in contact with Florida officials who reportedly told her told her that stagnant water puddles left behind by Hurricane Ian late last month also spurred the outbreak, and had “made the virus run rampant”.

The sudden spread has seen only the loveable Emmanuel and his stablemate Rico the swan survive at Blake’s farm.

The 55kg emu faces “a long road ahead” to recovery, Blake said, but insists that the animal – who has been left temporarily unable to walk because of his affliction – is a “fighter”.

She said it was miraculous that Emmanuel wasn’t killed like the other birds.

“I have so much gratitude in my heart that Emmanuel is still alive. That he is fighting. That my best friend is making a comeback. I am going to be OK, we are going to be OK!”

Originally published as TikTok star Emmanuel the emu stricken with deadly bird flu