Third bird tests positive for bird flu in South Australia, another tested in Western Australia
A third bird tested positive for H5 bird flu in South Australia, while another suspected case was detected in Western Australia.
The giant bird was found at Knights Beach in Port Elliot, South Australia, and later tested positive for bird flu after being processed in Geelong, Premier Peter Malinauskas said on Wednesday.
Another migratory seabird appears to have been found at Quindalup in the south-west of Western Australia.
Mr Malinauskas said there was “no cause for concern or alarm” because the bird had arrived in South Australia from Antarctica or sub-Antarctica.
The Labor Party Prime Minister said that the bird was taken by a wildlife conservation organization, and the organization drew the attention of the authorities by publishing a post on social media stating that it was looking after the sick bird.
He said a second bird also gave negative results.
Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said the finding was worrying but, given the worldwide spread of H5, it was not unexpected that other migratory birds had reached other locations along the Australian coastline.
“As I have said recently, I want to reassure Australians that our government’s bird flu response remains rapid and coordinated and that we have put our biosecurity response regulations in place.
“We are working closely with state and territory governments managing the response on the ground, including this new detection in South Australia.”
Papua New Guinea has suspended imports of meat and poultry products from Australia, Ms Collins said.
As of Wednesday afternoon, that ban had been lifted, with some exceptions, he said.
‘We will continue to work with them on this issue. “We appreciate PNG’s willingness to work collaboratively and lift some of these restrictions,” he said.
Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis said she was notified of another positive test result shortly before question time.
“I will have an update from the chief veterinary officer immediately after question time and then I will provide an update to the public, as you would expect from us,” the WA minister said.
Previously, two migratory birds (a brown skua and a northern giant bird) in the southeast of the state tested positive.
Western Australian Health Minister Meredith Hammat said 24 samples had been taken as of Tuesday.
Eight of these have yielded negative results so far.
