Race to stop bird flu becoming a ‘wildlife massacre’
A deadly virus has swept through wild birds overseas, forced farmers to slaughter chickens and spread to mammals. Now, it’s reached mainland Australia.
Bird flu has reached mainland Australia – with cases first confirmed in Western Australia and South Australia.
The strain, detected in three seabirds, is H5N1 – a deadly form of the virus that has swept through wild birds overseas, forced farmers to slaughter millions of chickens, spread to mammals and, in the US, infected dairy cows and farm workers.
Authorities in Australia say the risk to the public is low – but for wildlife, an outbreak could be devastating.
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Experts fear it could become the tipping point for species already endangered or close to extinction.
Today, Invasive Species Council CEO Jack Gough on the race to stop bird flu becoming a wildlife disaster in Australia.
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