The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is responding to a new suspect positive case of H5 bird flu in a migratory seabird on the South West coast of Western Australia.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is responding to a new suspect positive case of H5 bird flu in a migratory seabird on the South West coast of Western Australia.
Samples from an individual southern Giant Petrel near Quindalup has tested positive for H5 influenza in preliminary testing at DPIRD’s Diagnostic Laboratory Service.
Samples have been sent to CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness to confirm if it is the serious H5 bird flu strain (H5N1 high pathogenicity avian influenza) that has been circulating globally.
H5 bird flu was previously confirmed in two migratory seabirds earlier this week – a Brown Skua and Giant Petrel east of Esperance – the first detection in Australia.
To date, all other available test results (8) have returned negative for avian influenza. These negative results were from birds found in the Perth Metro, Peel, South West and Esperance regions.
Anyone who sees sick or dead birds or marine mammals should AVOID and not handle the animals but RECORD and take photos or a video and REPORT to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
