Another suspected H5 bird flu case is being investigated in Esperance
Authorities are investigating another suspected case of H5 bird flu after five giant petrels were found on a beach near Esperance on Western Australia’s southern coastline.
This is the fifth case investigated after two migratory birds in Western Australia and one in South Australia tested positive for the highly contagious virus.
Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis told the media that a member of the public reported that five giant petrels were found at Roses Beach on Sunday.
“Only one suspected bird flu test came back positive,” he said.
“The other four birds showed negative results.”
A giant wader found on Saturday at Quindalup in southwestern Western Australia is still being investigated.
The CSIRO will test samples from suspected cases to determine whether they are positive.
Ms Jarvis said there was still no sign of mass deaths or detections in poultry or wildlife.
“There is no evidence of disease transmission on the Australian mainland,” he said.
South Australia confirmed its first case of bird flu on Wednesday, with one bird testing positive.
The migratory seabird, a giant petrel, was found at Knights Beach on the Fleurieu Peninsula on June 14 alongside another bird that tested negative.
There are two confirmed cases of H5 bluebird in WA, which were found in Esperance last week.
On June 14, a sick brown skua was found on a beach and taken to a wildlife hospital; Four days later, another giant bird was found.
