Sick and dead birds reported as avian flu concerns grow
Fears are rising A deadly strain of bird flu discovered in Australia’s largest state is spreading, with 16 birds reported sick or dead, but the government is appealing for calm.
The H5N1 variant of the virus was confirmed in a sick brown skua found on a remote beach near Esperance in Western Australia, about 700 km southeast of Perth.
A second migratory bird, a giant petrel, also gave preliminary positive results, but further research is needed.
Environment Minister Murray Watt said the federal government was aware of numerous reports of sick and dead birds, but it was not clear whether they were related to bird flu or “the many other reasons why birds are dying every day”.
“There is no cause for alarm at this point that it is becoming a more widespread occurrence beyond these two birds,” Mr Watt told ABC Radio on Monday. he said.
He said if Australia were to experience a widespread outbreak it would have a very significant impact on native wildlife rather than poultry stocks.
“We know that bird flu can affect not only birds but also mammals… The species we are most concerned about are our most endangered species, whether it is specific bird species, [and] Australian sea lion.”
The species was previously detected on Heard Island in October, where an estimated 13,359 southern elephant seal pups died.
Australia has been preparing for the arrival of H5N1 for years, as the only continent not yet affected by the virus.
The federal government has developed more than 100 response plans for important areas and sensitive species and has invested nearly $100 million in preparedness efforts.
The discovery raised fears among scientists, conservationists and agricultural groups who point to mass mortality events and species-level population declines in overseas outbreaks.
University of Melbourne researcher Michelle Wille said Australian officials were preparing for the worst-case scenario, but international examples painted a bleak picture.
“Everywhere this virus has emerged has been truly catastrophic, there have been mass mortality events of wildlife and in some places we have seen species-level declines in population,” he said.
Industry impacts could also be significant, he said, noting that more than 200 million chickens have been culled in the United States since the virus arrived in the United States.
The public is urged to report and register sick and dead birds and marine mammals to the emergency animal disease hotline.
