Reports for sick birds surge but no new cases detected
Two seabirds washed up on an SA beach have triggered fears the H5N1 virus has spread from Western Australia.
Source: Seven Network
South Australia is testing dead migratory seabirds amid fears that the H5N1 virus has expanded to a second state.
It follows the discovery of two dead birds found washed up on Fowlers Bay Beach, on SA’s west coast.
The ABC reports they are believed to be a white-headed petrel and another sub-species of petrel.
A bird found on Fowlers Bay Beach was reported as a white-headed petrel.
The discovery comes after the first confirmed Australian case of H5N1 in a bird in Western Australia this week.
Since then, there have been more than 100 reports about potentially sick birds to the national emergency hotline.
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A Department of Primary Industries and Regions spokesperson said there were no confirmed cases of H5 bird flu in SA and it had bolstered surveillance.
“The state government will examine any report of sick or dead birds and other wildlife,” they said.
“Each report is investigated by wildlife experts, and samples are collected for further testing and analysis when appropriate.”
The virus has made its way onto local shores for the first time, with major poultry producer Inghams announcing it would lockdown its WA sites to mitigate against potential risks.
More than 200 million chickens have been culled in the US since the virus arrived there.
Both pelagic birds discovered with the virus were found on a remote beach in Esperance, about 700 kilometres south-east of Perth.
Esperance Wildlife Hospital volunteer Lori-Ann Shibish said they had been on high alert for months, tracking the spread of the H5 strain after it reportedly killed thousands of animals on Heard Island.
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She said the first warning sign came when a king penguin, found on the island, was discovered washed ashore.
“When that bird was brought into care, we enacted all of our protocols with quarantining and notifying the authorities,” she said on Tuesday.
“Luckily that bird tested negative. We realised this was the harbinger of what was to come.”
Shibish said unusual weather might have brought the two sick pelagic birds to the mainland. The species rarely makes landfall.
While there have been no additional cases, farmers continue to monitor the situation.
“Australian farmers are world leaders in biosecurity, not only to protect our animals and environment, but to ensure if a situation arises, the impact to our food supply chain is minimised,” National Farmers Federation president Hamish McIntyre said.
Leading beef producers in WA said they were confident biosecurity authorities had protocols to monitor and implement steps to keep the population and industries safe.
The strain was different from previous ones experienced in Australia, such as the H7 flu, Australian National University expert Robyn Alders said.
“The impacts are considerable, both in terms of agriculture but there are concerns for the poultry industry,” Alders said.
Authorities were aware H5N1 was causing significant infection and productivity losses to the US dairy industry, as well as evidence of the virus in Canadian wild pigs, she said.
The strain can infect and cause serious illness or death in a range of species, including rodents and cats, making it more difficult to detect, monitor and control.
Pet owners should keep their animals on a leash in wildlife areas and cats kept indoors to minimise contact with potentially affected birds.
“If the virus does spread, pet owners, particularly cat owners, should be aware that this particular strain is quite virulent for cats,” Alders said.
The public has been urged to report and record sick and dead birds and marine mammals to the emergency animal disease hotline, but avoid contact with the animals.
-with AAP
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