Emmanuel, an emu, has become one of the most popular birds on TikTok after its owner, Taylor Blake, posted a video of the bird’s sassy behavior. But a deadly wave of Avian flu has hit Blake’s farm, and now Emmanuel is fighting for his life. In the wake of the flu outbreak, the renowned Czech-American tennis player, Martina Navratilova, shared her wishes for the beloved emu on Twitter.

Within months, bird flu spread rapidly across the United States. It is being called the worst outbreak since 2015 when the strain affected nearly 50 million birds across the country.

Martina Navratilova shared words of encouragement for Emmanuel, the emu

When Taylor Blake created an educational TikTok about farming, Emmanuel the emu started pecking at her cameras, causing it to go viral all over the internet. Through her Twitter handle, Navratilova encouraged the viral emu to stay strong amid the ongoing outbreak. She captioned the post, “Hang in there Emanuel.”

The infection affected not only Emmanuel’s respiratory system but also caused neurological symptoms and loss of function in his right foot and leg. Emanuel is now on the road to recovery and hopefully will be back to his screen-pecking habit on TikTok soon.

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In addition to her philanthropic way of life, Martina Navratilova has 18 Grand Slam singles titles. Her competitive nature is as fierce as her love for animals. She regularly tweets to encourage and sort help from her fans.

Navratilova raises voice for cancer survivors

Earlier this month, Martina Navratilova rang the NASDAQ bell in New York Times Square to kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The 65-year-old is also a breast cancer survivor and regularly uses her social media to raise awareness. The tennis legend has partnered with Hologic, an innovative medical technology company and pioneer in 3D mammography. Hologic has established an alliance with the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) to aid and help fans.

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After overcoming her fear of breast cancer, she began using her platform to remind women to get regular checkups and educate them about the dangers of a late diagnosis.

Navratilova was diagnosed with a non-invasive form of breast cancer. She underwent a successful lumpectomy to remove the cancerous cells. As a cancer survivor, she is regularly involved in raising awareness about the deadly disease among her fans and the general public.