NSW records first suspected case of deadly H5 bird flu as virus reaches Australia’s east coast
Summary
New South Wales (NSW) has found a suspected first case of the deadly H5 bird flu in a giant petrel bird near Hawks Nest on the east coast of Australia. If confirmed by further tests, this would be the first detection of the highly dangerous H5N1 strain on Australia’s east coast, following earlier cases in Western and South Australia.Key Facts
- A giant petrel found near Hawks Nest, NSW, tested positive for H5 influenza in initial lab tests.
- Final tests by the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness will confirm if it is the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain.
- There have been five confirmed cases of H5 bird flu in Australia since June—four in Western Australia and one in South Australia.
- These cases were detected in migratory sub-antarctic birds, not poultry.
- NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said no poultry or other wild birds in NSW have tested positive so far.
- The NSW government has set up surveillance and a coordination center for bird flu detection and response.
- The bird flu strain has caused serious damage to wild birds and poultry worldwide.
- NSW is cooperating with federal and other state governments to monitor and manage the situation.
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