Third WA case of Bird flu confirmed as authorities await another suspect positive case near Esperance

Australia’s fight to keep a deadly strain of bird flu out of the poultry industry has entered a new phase after a fourth wild migratory seabird tested positive for H5 highly pathogenic bird flu.

Tests at CSIRO’s Australian Center for Disease Preparedness confirmed the virus was in a giant bird in Western Australia, sparking new concerns as authorities continue to monitor the spread of the disease along Australia’s southern coast.

This latest detection follows three previously confirmed cases in wild migratory seabirds, two in Western Australia and one in South Australia.

Australia’s chief veterinary officer Beth Cookson said WA also reported another suspected positive detection in the CSIRO’s ACDP of a giant bird found at Roses Beach, west of Esperance, with samples for confirmatory testing.

Dr Cookson said there was no evidence yet that the virus had spread beyond isolated migratory seabirds.

“At this stage detections have only been made in stray migratory seabirds that occasionally visit southern Australia. There remains no evidence of any mass mortality and there are no detections in poultry or our agricultural production system,” he said.

“The risk to human health remains low.”

Authorities are urging the public not to handle dead birds or other animals and to report them to the Emergency Animal Disease Helpline on 1800 675 888 from anywhere in Australia.

For more information, visit: birdflu.gov.au