Australia’s first case of the deadly H5 strain of bird flu has been confirmed in WA, the Federal Government says.
The strain, which has already wiped out millions of wild birds and marine mammals globally, has now spread to every continent.
A suspected positive result was found in a bird near Cape Le Grand beach in the national park about 56km east of Esperance in the south of the State on June 14.
Australia’s Agriculture Minister Julie Collins confirmed on Saturday morning the brown skua seabird — which is a sub-antarctic bird rarely found in the area — tested positive for the H5 strain at the CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness in Geelong.
Another bird is also suspected of having died from the HF bird flu strain.
“Testing overnight at CSIRO’s Centre for Disease Preparedness has confirmed the H5 avian influenza or bird flu in a brown skua in Western Australia,” Ms Collins said.
“This is a migratory sea bird and found sick in an isolated area near Esperance in Western Australia.
“The samples of another sick bird, a giant petrel has now been tested and has also returned a suspected positive result of H5 influenza.”
While Ms Collins said on Friday there was no evidence of infection in poultry, she urged Australians to be cautious.
“There is no evidence of any mass mortality at this time, nor is there any evidence of infection in poultry,” she said.
“A key message for everyone is, please do not touch sick or dead birds or animals.
“If you see multiple sick or dead birds or other animals, please take photos or record it from a safe distance, record your location and go to Birdflu.gov.au to report it.
“I want everyone to know that this is what we have been preparing for.
“We’ve undertaken a series of national exercises, and we’ve invested $113 million to strengthen our nation’s preparedness for the H5 bird flu, including an additional $11 million in the most recent budget.”
There are now serious concerns about the spread of the virus which could affect sea lions, marine and water birds and specifically in WA Black Swans, penguins and blue billed ducks.
The deadly virus is transmitted animal to animal: but the public is being told not to touch or pick up any dead birds or other wildlife as this can result in infection.
“The circumstances where humans mostly become infected are those where they are in very close contact with sick or dying animals,” Australian chief veterinary officer Beth Cookson said.
“The global assessment of the human to human transmisison is rated as low.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Australia is well prepared to deal with an outbreak of bird flu.
“We have invested $113 million to strengthen our nation’s preparedness for H5 bird flu, including an additional $11.2 million we had in our most recent budget,” Mr Albanese said on Saturday.
“What we are about is making sure firstly that we do whatever we can to restrict the spread.
“We have prepared for it.
“This is something that has happened through migratory birds.
“It has happened by definition around the world and that is why we have been preparing for this.”
More than 13,000 baby seals on Heard Island have been killed by the strain after it was first detected on the remote sub-Antarctic island, 4000km southwest of Perth in October.
Scientists who visited Heard Island estimated 76 per cent of the total southern elephant seal pups population had died from the disease.
Sick bird reports can be made to the emergency animal disease hotline 1800-675-888 or Birdflu.gov.au.
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