Testing has confirmed the first mass mortality event of H5 bird flu in South Australia, as cases of infected birds continue to grow across the country. An expert warns both producers and the wider population need to be vigilant to prevent a wider spread in wildlife and humans.
Associate Professor Thi Thu Hao Van, Department of Biology:
“Highly pathogenic H5N1 can cause severe disease and substantial mortality in poultry, wild birds and some mammals worldwide.
“If introduced into poultry populations, H5N1 could significantly affect poultry producers, potentially leading to large-scale culling and impacts on food security.
“Strong biosecurity measures are important on commercial poultry farms and in backyard flocks to reduce the risk of H5N1 transmission between wild birds and domestic poultry.
“These measures should include limiting contact between domestic poultry and wild birds, keeping sheds, outdoor areas and equipment clean, washing hands before and after handling birds or eggs, and quarantining newly acquired birds before introducing them to an existing flock.
“Although the risk to human health remains very low, rare infections can occur following close contact with infected birds, their droppings or contaminated environments.”
Associate Professor Thi Thu Hao Van is a molecular microbiologist in the Department of Biology, School of Science, at RMIT University. Her research focuses on improving poultry health.
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