Deadly H5 Bird Flu Detected in South Australian Seabird in Landmark Case

The first documented case of the deadly H5N1 bird flu in Australian wildlife has been identified in a seabird found along South Australia’s coastline.

Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins announced on Friday that a greater crested tern, a common coastal species, tested positive for the disease. The bird was discovered at Robe, located on the Limestone Coast of South Australia.

“While this is undoubtedly a concerning development, it was anticipated and underscores the effectiveness of our robust biosecurity measures,” Collins stated.

Previously, bird flu cases had been detected in migratory subantarctic seabirds, primarily giant petrels, found along the coasts of South Australia, Western Australia, and New South Wales.

Collins noted that the South Australian government is spearheading enhanced surveillance efforts to determine if there have been further cases in local wildlife.

“What we do know is that this is a coastal seabird that shares a coastal range with migratory seabirds that have previously tested positive for H5,” she explained.

Earlier this week, the SA government reported completing the largest aerial survey of the state’s coastline, islands, and reefs in four decades, finding no widespread evidence of sick or dead seabirds or seals.

Source link