The suspected positive H5 bird flu detection has come from a Giant Petrel (not pictured) that was discovered at Hawks Nest. Photo: Wikipedia/JJ Harrison.
A suspected positive result for H5 avian influenza has been returned from a migratory bird found in NSW’s Mid-North Coast.
Australia is the last continent free from an outbreak of the highly pathogenic and deadly strain but it turned up in two migratory birds in Western Australia last month.
Now samples from a Giant Petrel near Hawks Nest have tested positive in preliminary testing, with further samples sent to CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) to confirm if it is the H5 bird flu strain.
It marks the first wild migratory seabird in NSW to return a suspected positive result for H5 bird flu.
Hawks Nest is a small town an hour north of Newcastle. Photo: Google Maps.
NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty described the suspected positive result as “incredibly concerning for both agriculture and for wildlife”.
“The impact of H5 worldwide on wild birds and poultry has been devastating,” she said.
“But NSW and the rest of the country have been preparing for this moment for many years.”
There’s no outbreak yet, and no recorded cases in commercial poultry flocks, captive birds or native birds.
The H5 strain has been recorded in marine mammals, and it has even turned up in dairy cows, cats and dogs in overseas cases.
The risk to human health remains low.
NSW Chief Veterinary Officer Jo Coombe said the focus now was to increase surveillance and detect any further infections as early as possible.
“We have now ramped up surveillance operations having trained more than 500 additional staff, including Local Land Services and National Parks and Wildlife Service field officers to undertake surveillance for H5 bird flu,” she said.
“The State Coordination Centre has been stood up in Orange, we have established the H5 bird flu call centre and we are briefing all key stakeholders on the current situation.
“We have innovative spatial mapping tools, decision-support systems and response databases to enable rapid, evidence-based action during a wildlife outbreak.
“We are using the best available data now to target actions for our most at-risk wildlife species and important natural places.”
Australia has five confirmed cases of H5 bird flu in wild birds – four in Western Australia and one in Southern Australia.
If unusual deaths or illness in wild birds are observed, avoid contact. Record any evidence by taking photos or video and report immediately to the Emergency Animal Disease (EAD) Hotline on 1800 675 888. More information can be found at Agriculture.
