Australia H5N1 bird flu: 13 possibly infected seabirds spark urgent testing from Geraldton to SA

More than a dozen birds from Geraldton to the southern coast of South Australia are undergoing urgent H5N1 testing after two infected migratory seabirds were discovered near Esperance.

Bird flu panic has gripped WA after reports of nearly 100 sick or dead birds flooded the state’s emergency animal disease helpline in just three days, prompting the establishment of a parliamentary Animal Emergency committee.

The increase in public concern follows the recent confirmation of Australia’s first cases of H5 bird flu in two migratory subantarctic birds found at Cape Le Grand beach, about 56 km east of Esperance.

The Federal Government has confirmed that the first suspected case of the deadly global strain of bird flu was discovered in Australia in a brown skua on 14 June.

A second migratory bird, a giant petrel, tested positive for the H5 virus on Monday.

Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis said 94 calls were made to the helpline between Saturday and Monday.

“As previously reported, 58 reports were made to the emergency animal disease hotline over the weekend,” he said.

“On Monday, June 22, the animal emergency disease hotline received 36 reports.”

Despite the spike in reports, only two of Monday’s cases appeared to be significant enough to require laboratory testing.

“These examples include two wild seabirds, a cormorant in the Perth metropolitan area and a giant petrel in Geraldton,” Ms Jarvis said.

The latest samples bring the number of pending H5N1 test results in Western Australia to 11 as authorities race to determine whether the virus has spread.

“Preliminary results from all samples will be made publicly available when possible,” Ms Jarvis said.

“There is no evidence that the virus is spreading, but we have asked the public to remain vigilant and follow advice on reporting sick or dead birds or marine mammals.”

The virus has potentially spread along the Great Australian Bight coastline, and two more dead birds were found just across the South Australian border.

A white-headed storm petrel and a soft-plumed storm petrel were found washed ashore in Fowlers Bay, according to BirdLife Australia senior advisor Sean Dooley.

“Two dead seabirds were discovered on the opposite side of the Bight towards Western Australia,” Mr Dooley told The West Australian.

“Both these seabirds are Southern Ocean seabirds that move around the circumpolar Southern Ocean following the winds, and they tend to approach Australia in winter.

“Both of these species breed on Crozet Island, north of Heard Island, and there have been outbreaks of bird flu there in recent months and approximately last year.”

Mr Dooley said it was not unusual for seabirds to become airborne or become exhausted on land and die if care was not taken.

“So just because there are birds on the beach doesn’t necessarily mean it’s bird flu, but given that bird flu is present on Crozet Island and Heard Island and we have two positive cases, it’s really important that we stay vigilant and treat any dead seabirds that come ashore as potential victims of H5N1 bird flu,” he said.

Mr Dooley said despite the devastating nature of the virus he was trying to stay positive rather than jumping to conclusions.

“BirdLife Australia has been extremely concerned about this for nearly four years and we have been working to make sure we are as well prepared as possible because if an outbreak were to occur it could be devastating for many Australian native birds,” he said.

“But I’m cautious to a degree of caution in jumping to conclusions right now because so many things kill seabirds and we don’t yet know if bird flu is involved.”

Ms Jarvis also remained calm about the new discoveries, suggesting it was common to find dead birds along the coast in winter.

“I’ve been told that it’s not uncommon for these types of seabirds, these migratory birds, to be found off the coast of Western Australia, especially at this time of year when weather events can blow them off course.” he said.

“So the presence of these birds, I think, is not a cause for concern due to the species of these birds and their migratory nature. That’s why it was determined that tests should be done.”

But confusion has emerged at government levels about what would trigger a major response.

Western Australia’s Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn said on Monday that four more H5N1 detections would be required to trigger the “full response”.

“From what I understand it takes six birds (to trigger a full response), so it’s not that many,” he said.

Ms Jarvis said on Tuesday that was simply not true.

“He misspoke going into the press conference,” Ms Jarvis said of Mr Swinbourn.

“It is not right to provide some clarification on some media reports yesterday that said it would take six positive outcomes to escalate the current situation.”

Ms. Jarvis confirmed that the next stages of the government’s response were determined by science, not a specific number of discoveries.

“More positive results will be reported to the advisory committee of chief veterinary officers from across Australia,” he said.

“The decision of the next stage is made by the veterinarians themselves, we are guided by science and therefore there is no set number.”

Ms Jarvis added that the “likely trigger (for a larger response) would be the spread of the epidemic into wildlife.”

Official government documents outline that in response to the finding of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus infection in wild birds, an Emergency Animal Disease Advisory Committee will be convened and an epidemiological risk assessment of the situation will be carried out.

The formal assessment will take into account the virus subtype, the likely source of infection, the bird species affected, the clinical status of the birds, and their proximity to commercial birds and public recreation areas.

Under government guidance, no action will be required unless a risk assessment shows an unacceptable threat to animal or public health.

Where a response is required, this will be appropriate to the assessed level of risk and may include declaration of restricted areas, surveillance to determine the extent of infection, enhanced biosecurity, a public awareness campaign to communicate the risk, and protection of public health in consultation with human health authorities.

The high risks are outlined in the Government and Livestock Industry Cost-Sharing Document on Responses to Animal Emergency Diseases, which classifies avian influenza H5 as a category two animal emergency disease.

The second category is defined in the document as: “Emergency Animal Diseases that have the potential to cause major national socio-economic consequences through very serious international trade losses, national market disruptions and very serious production losses in relevant livestock industries.”

“This category includes diseases that may have slightly lower national socio-economic consequences, but also have significant public health and/or environmental consequences.”

Despite the serious classification, Ms Jarvis said there was no need to panic and quarantines limiting public access to egg and poultry farms were merely a precaution.

“There has been no disruption to production. I don’t expect production to be disrupted,” Ms. Jarvis said.

“The poultry industry is very well prepared for this. In other regions abroad, this disease was not detected until it infected commercial flocks.

“We have the advantage of two years of preparation. Egg farmers are very knowledgeable about what to do. I can’t say we’ll see shortages like they’ve seen in other countries.”