Australia confirms first mass deaths linked to H5N1 bird flu
AUSTRALIA – Australia has confirmed its first large scale wildlife deaths caused by the H5N1 strain of avian influenza after about 50 greater crested terns were found dead along the country’s southern coastline, prompting fresh warnings that infections among wild birds are likely to increase despite no confirmed outbreaks on commercial poultry farms.
The latest incident occurred near Cape Jaffa, about 250 kilometres south of Adelaide, where helicopter surveillance on Friday located 49 dead terns and 35 others showing signs of illness on offshore rocks before laboratory testing confirmed the presence of the H5N1 virus, according to Agriculture Minister Julie Collins.
Collins said Australians should expect to see the disease spread further through wildlife populations and warned that larger numbers of birds could be affected as the virus becomes established in the natural environment, making significant wildlife losses difficult to prevent.
She added that this marks Australia’s first confirmed mass mortality event linked to H5N1, signalling a new stage in the country’s battle against the highly pathogenic virus following its initial detection in June.
Surveillance and biosecurity measures continue
Australia has so far recorded 74 confirmed H5N1 cases distributed across several states, including South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland, although South Australia has reported the highest number of infections.
Even so, authorities have found no evidence that the virus has entered commercial poultry operations, with producers maintaining strict biosecurity measures designed to shield flocks from infection.
Australia and neighbouring New Zealand, which reported its first H5N1 case last month, have spent years preparing for the virus through tighter farm biosecurity, expanded surveillance of shorebirds, vaccination programmes for vulnerable wildlife species and emergency response exercises.
The H5N1 virus has caused widespread losses around the world over the past several years, killing hundreds of millions of birds and mammals while inflicting billions of US dollars in damage on the poultry industry, spreading to cattle in the United States and leaving large numbers of dead birds and seals along coastlines.
Health authorities continue to state that the risk to the general public remains low because human infections are uncommon and are usually linked to direct contact with infected animals, although monitoring of both wildlife and domestic animals is continuing as officials work to limit further spread.
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