The first case of the H5 bird flu has been detected in New South Wales, following a suspected positive case on the state's central coast. Samples from a Giant Petrel near Hawks Nest, north of Sydney, tested positive for H5 influenza in preliminary testing. The samples have been sent to CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) to confirm if it is the H5 high pathogenicity avian influenza (bird flu) strain.
Government response and concerns
“This latest development is incredibly concerning for both agriculture and for wildlife,” NSW Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said. “The impact of H5 worldwide on wild birds and poultry has been devastating.” The state government said at this stage there have only been confirmed detections in vagrant migratory seabirds that “occasionally visit southern Australia”.
“NSW and the rest of the country have been preparing for this moment for many years,” Moriarty said. “We are working with Federal, State and Territory governments as we roll out plans that have been developed with all stakeholders including industry, agriculture and wildlife organisations.”
Community precautions
“The community can help by avoiding contact with sick or dead wildlife and their environment, recording what you see and reporting any unusual sickness or mass mortality to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline.” Surveillance operations have already ramped up in NSW in preparation for a potential detection across the state, including establishing a H5 bird flu call centre, and training over 500 additional staff from Local Land Services and National Parks and Wildlife Service field officers.
Broader context
Avian influenza has already been confirmed in migratory seabirds found in South Australia and Western Australia. The detection in NSW marks a significant expansion of the virus's presence in Australia, raising concerns for both wild bird populations and the poultry industry.
