newy.com.au – NSW authorities are responding to a suspected case of H5 bird flu in a giant petrel found near Hawks Nest, in what would be the state’s first suspect positive result for H5 bird flu in a wild migratory seabird.
Samples from the bird returned a preliminary positive result for H5 influenza at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development laboratory at the Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute. Further samples have been sent to CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness to confirm whether the strain is H5 high pathogenicity avian influenza.
The NSW Government says bird flu has not been detected in commercial poultry flocks, captive birds or any other birds in NSW, and has not become established in any part of Australia. At this stage, confirmed detections have only been recorded in vagrant migratory seabirds that occasionally visit southern Australia.
Authorities say the risk to human health remains low, but people should avoid contact with sick or dead wild birds and their surroundings. Anyone who sees unusual deaths or illness in wild birds is being urged to record the scene with photos or video and report it immediately to the 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
The State Coordination Centre has been operating from DPIRD’s Orange Agricultural Institute since June 19 to coordinate surveillance and the state’s response. Surveillance operations had already been increased in preparation for a potential detection, including the establishment of an H5 bird flu call centre and training for more than 500 additional staff, including Local Land Services and National Parks and Wildlife Service field officers.
NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said the latest development was “incredibly concerning for both agriculture and for wildlife”.
“The impact of H5 worldwide on wild birds and poultry has been devastating,” she said.
“But NSW and the rest of the country have been preparing for this moment for many years.
“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.”
Ms Moriarty said the community could help by avoiding contact with sick or dead wildlife and reporting unusual sickness or mass mortality to the hotline.
NSW Chief Veterinary Officer Jo Coombe said the immediate focus was on increased surveillance and early detection of any further infections.
“We have now ramped up surveillance operations having trained more than 500 additional staff, including Local Land Services and National Parks and Wildlife Service field officers to undertake surveillance for H5 bird flu,” she said.
“We have innovative spatial mapping tools, decision-support systems and response databases to enable rapid, evidence-based action during a wildlife outbreak.
“We are using the best available data now to target actions for our most at-risk wildlife species and important natural places.”
Further information is available at birdflu.gov.au.
