A giant petrel found on Western Australian coast. Source – Facebook.

NEW South Wales has implemented its bird flu response plan after its first case of H5 avian influenza was confirmed, and case in Western Australia – its fifth — raised the number of confirmed or presumed positive cases in migratory seabirds nationally to seven.

A giant petrel found near Hawks Nest IN NSW has been confirmed positive for H5 high pathogenicity (H5 bird flu) avian influenza in laboratory tests by the CSIRO Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness.

The positive test is the first confirmed detection of H5 in New South Wales; however, there is no evidence of spread to local wildlife and H5 bird flu has not been detected in commercial poultry flocks, captive birds or any other birds in NSW.

To date H5 bird flu in NSW is limited to this single case in a migratory seabird. The risk to human health remains low, NSW’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development said.

The NSW Government said its H5 Bird Flu Response Plan included:

• advice to commercial poultry producers (consistent with that of the Consultative Committee for Emergency Animal Diseases) recommending heightened biosecurity measures and, as a precaution measure, voluntary housing of free-range poultry (where practicable and while maintaining acceptable animal welfare)
• ramped up surveillance operations with drones and on-ground efforts deployed to target high risk areas over the weekend and into the coming weeks
• deploying additional staff to support industry and the community, with more 500 staff across Government trained to assist efforts, and
• working closely with the Australian Government and following the agreed national arrangements.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is coordinating NSW Government efforts from the State Coordination Centre at Orange Agricultural Institute.

The NSW Government said observers of unusual deaths or illness in wild birds should contact, record by taking photos or video and report immediately to the Emergency Animal Disease (EAD) Hotline on 1800 675 888.

NSW Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said the NSW Government has been preparing for a positive result for some time and there is a clear plan in place to support industry and the community.

“At this stage the result is limited to a single migratory seabird and has not impacted our poultry sector or domestic wildlife.

“There is no impact on the supply of chicken meat or eggs and I would encourage everyone to purchase these products as they normally would,” she said.

NSW Chief Veterinary Officer Jo Coombe said the confirmed case of H5N1 avian influenza in a giant petrel was detected as a result of our surveillance activities, which included increased awareness and advice to the public to report sick or dead birds or wildlife.

Testing confirms another H5 case in WA

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry also today said testing at CSIRO’s ACDP has determined the giant petrel found in the Perth North Metropolitan Area (Whitfords – Mullaloo beach) of Western Australia is presumed positive for H5 high pathogenicity bird flu.

CSIRO’s ACDP has confirmed the giant petrel was infected with an influenza virus of the H5 subtype. In this case, ACDP has been unable to sequence the virus, DAFF said.

DAFF said the Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is treating the case as a positive as a precautionary measure, because of the initial WA laboratory findings, and the consistency with recent findings in other petrels.

The inability to obtain a sequence is not unexpected. A range of factors, including the amount of virus in the sample and the sample quality, can affect sequencing, particularly in wildlife samples from deceased animals, DAFF said.

DAFF reminded poultry producers that on-farm biosecurity practices are crucial to protect the health of their flocks.

For more information visit: birdflu.gov.au