Precautions urged as sixth bird flu case confirmed

Precautions are being urged after Australia confirmed its sixth bird flu case, this time linked to a migratory seabird in New South Wales. Authorities said testing at CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness confirmed H5 high pathogenicity avian influenza (bird flu) in a sample taken from a giant petrel found near Hawks Nest. In a statement, Chief Veterinary Officer Sam Hamilton said it is the sixth detection of H5 bird flu in migratory seabirds, following five earlier detections discovered in Western Australia and South Australia. A suspected additional case was detected on Friday in a migratory bird in the northern Perth suburb of Mullaloo, and further testing is underway. Hamilton stated there is no evidence of mass mortality and no detections in poultry or the agricultural production system, and that the risk to human health remains low. The animal health emergency body said commercial free-range poultry producers may keep birds indoors for two weeks while assessment continues. NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said the response includes ramped-up surveillance and additional staff, and that poultry supplies and domestic wildlife have not been impacted.