New South Wales has recorded its first suspected case of the deadly H5 bird flu in a southern giant petrel found near Hawks Nest, north of Newcastle. Initial testing confirmed the bird was positive for H5 influenza, with further tests needed to determine if it is the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain.
Details of the Suspected H5 Bird Flu Case
The giant petrel was discovered unwell by a member of the public who reported it to the authorities. Tara Moriarty, the NSW agriculture minister, stated that if confirmed, this would mark the first detection of the highly pathogenic strain on the Australian east coast. Previously, five cases were confirmed in other states, with four in Western Australia and one in South Australia.
On Friday, the WA government reported a fifth suspected case in a dead giant petrel found in Mullaloo. To combat the spread, they are enhancing H5 surveillance at metropolitan beaches.
Government Response and Surveillance Measures
Moriarty emphasized that the disease has not yet been detected in any poultry flocks or other wild birds in NSW. She noted, “This latest development is incredibly concerning for both agriculture and for wildlife.” The NSW government has been preparing for this scenario and has established surveillance for early detection following the virus's arrival in other regions.
