A deadly strain of H5 bird flu has been confirmed in two Australian states after a migratory seabird tested positive in South Australia, marking the third confirmed case since Saturday. Western Australia is investigating a suspected fourth case.
South Australia Confirms First Case
The South Australian premier, Peter Malinauskas, announced on Wednesday that a giant petrel had tested positive for H5 bird flu. The bird was found unwell on Knights Beach in Port Elliot on 14 June. Authorities were alerted to social media posts on 19 June indicating the bird was in care with Wildlife Welfare Organisation SA. The premier said authorities “responded quickly,” and the animal was tested, with a positive result confirmed by the CSIRO on Wednesday.
Malinauskas stated that the government is in contact with volunteers who had come into contact with unwell birds and would prescribe the antiviral Tamiflu if necessary. “It’s very, very important now that we have received a positive result from South Australia, that people are very aware that they can report any signs of bird life that is unwell or dead,” he said. “They can do that through our hotline, which is again something I encourage people to call if in doubt.”
Western Australia Suspects Fourth Case
Western Australia’s agriculture minister, Jackie Jarvis, confirmed a suspected case in that state during a press conference on Wednesday afternoon. The state has been investigating reports of dead and unwell birds after two migratory birds near Esperance tested positive last week for the deadly strain that has devastated wildlife populations globally. Jarvis said test samples from the third case, a southern giant petrel also from the subantarctic region, had been sent to the CSIRO for confirmation.
Background and Response
Australia has previously been free of the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain, but recent detections have raised concerns. The first cases were confirmed on Saturday in a dead brown skua and another bird in Western Australia. The current outbreak has prompted authorities to urge the public to report any sick or dead birds through a dedicated hotline.
The federal agriculture minister, Julie Collins, is coordinating with state governments to monitor the situation. The antiviral Tamiflu is being made available to those who may have been exposed.
