Source : Perth Now news
Australia’s battle to keep a deadly strain of bird flu out of its poultry industry has entered a new phase, with a fourth wild migratory seabird testing positive for H5 high pathogenicity avian influenza.
Testing at CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness has confirmed the virus in a giant petrel in Western Australia, raising new concerns as authorities continue to monitor the spread of the disease along Australia’s southern coast.
This latest detection follows three previous confirmed cases in wild migratory seabirds — two in WA and one in South Australia.
Australia’s chief veterinary officer Beth Cookson said WA has also reported a further suspected positive detection in a giant petrel found at Roses Beach, west of Esperance with samples for confirmatory testing at CSIRO’s ACDP.
Dr Cookson said there is still no evidence the virus has spread beyond isolated migratory seabirds.
“At this stage, there have only been detections in vagrant migratory seabirds that occasionally visit southern Australia. There remains no evidence of any mass mortality events and there are no detections in poultry or in our agricultural production system,” she said.
“The risk to human health remains low.”
Authorities are urging the public to not touch any dead birds or other animals and report them to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888 from anywhere in Australia.
For more information visit: birdflu.gov.au
