First case of deadly bird flu detected on mainland
· Michael West
A deadly avian disease that has wreaked havoc on wildlife across the world has been confirmed on mainland Australia for the first time.
Detection of the H5 strain of bird flu was announced on Saturday after a sick brown skua was found on a remote beach in Cape Le Grand National Park near Esperance, about 700km southeast of Perth.
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This strain has already killed millions of animals and could threaten Australia’s native wildlife and farmed animals but Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said the government had been planning for its spread.
While unfortunate, Julie Collins says the mainland detection of bird flu was not unexpected. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)“We all knew that we couldnt be (H5) bird flu free forever,” she told reporters.
“Whilst disappointing, this is not unexpected given the global spread of the H5 bird flu virus.
“We have looked at what has happened overseas, we have learned from that, which is why we have invested early.”
The federal government has spent more than $100 million to support Australia’s preparedness for this strain of bird flu.
More than 100 plans have been developed for significant natural sites and a consultative committee for emergency animal diseases met on Saturday morning to consider WA’s response plan.
There is currently no evidence of mass mortality or infection in poultry or agricultural production systems, the government confirmed.
But a second sick bird – a giant petrel – has returned a suspected positive result for H5 bird flu.
Tasmanian devils, the critically endangered orange-bellied parrot and the black swan are among the many native animals susceptible to the disease.
Tasmanian devils are considered highly susceptible to highly pathogenic avian influenza. (AP PHOTO)The animal populations most vulnerable are those that come together and breed in high densities, Australian Chief Veterinary Officer Beth Cookson said.
This includes the little penguin and the blue-billed duck.
Other species are less biologically susceptible but can also be vulnerable if they are already at risk of extinction.
The Australian sea lion is particularly at risk as it is both susceptible and already endangered but Threatened Species Commissioner Fiona Fraser confirmed the flu was not an automatic death sentence.
“What a disease like bird flu does is add to the extinction risk of species which are already threatened,” Dr Fraser said.
“It’s not a formula where you add bird flu in and then the species is going to go extinct.
“If bird flu establishes in Australia, it will not be everywhere all at once and there’ll be parts of the country that it probably never reaches.”
The deadly strain was detected for the first time on Australian soil in October on World Heritage-listed Heard Island, 4000km southwest of Perth.
A devastating H5 bird flu outbreak has swept through Heard Island. (PR IMAGE PHOTO)Scientists who visited the sub-Antarctic territory estimated 13,359 southern elephant seal pups had died from the disease out of a total population of 17,364.
The risk to Australia’s agricultural industries remains low but would increase if the strain were established in other animal populations.
Though there have been some human infections overseas, the risk is low and has generally occurred after very close contact with sick or dying animals.
Humans have still been urged to take precautions.
The government has also called for the community to help its bird flu response.
Australians are being urged to avoid contact with dead or sick animals, record information associated with the location and site where they are found, and report to the emergency animal disease hotline.
The Western Australian government is leading an on-ground response to the bird flu detections.