Western Australia has now recorded seven confirmed (or presumed positive) cases of H5 bird flu in individual wild migratory seabirds.
Western Australia has now recorded seven confirmed (or presumed positive) cases of H5 bird flu in individual wild migratory seabirds.
Testing at CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness today confirmed the virus in the previously reported suspect positive dead petrel at Mullaloo Beach on the north Perth metropolitan coast.
Another dead petrel previously reported at Horrocks Beach near Northampton was classified as presumed positive with further testing unable to definitively determine H5 bird flu virus through viral sequencing.
It is considered highly likely this bird was infected with H5 bird flu based on the H5 test results, species involved, coastal location and the broader epidemiological picture.
WA is responding to both cases with heightened surveillance in the coastal areas.
Nationally, there have been 13 confirmed or presumed positive results of H5 bird flu in Australia.
This includes 12 wild migratory seabirds, and one confirmed detection announced today in a greater crested tern found near Robe in South Australia. This is the first confirmed detection in an Australian non-migratory seabird.
Importantly, at this time, there is no evidence of any large-scale deaths in wildlife, nor any evidence of infection in poultry or in our agricultural production system
The seven confirmed detections in WA are isolated occurrences and dispersed along a significant length of coastline from east of Esperance to Northampton.
Coastal communities are encouraged to report sick or dead wildlife to the Emergency Animal Disease (EAD) Hotline for assessment.
There has been more than 1400 wildlife-related reports from WA to the hotline since the first confirmed case on 19 June. Of these reports, 228 have been prioritised for further investigation.
To date, a total of 93 negative test results has been recorded across the State.
Each report is carefully reviewed and assessed based on factors such as the species involved, the number of animals affected, the location and the likelihood of disease risk.
Not every report will result in birds being tested or collected, but every report does help inform the understanding of the disease and what is happening in the environment.
People are reminded to avoid handing the animals, record their observations by photo or video and report to the EAD hotline on 1800 675 888.
More information is available at birdflu.gov.au
