A potentially lethal strain of bird flu, H5N1, may have been found in a migratory bird within Australia’s biggest state, which until now had not seen cases of the virus.
In the past week, avian influenza has been identified in five instances among seabirds across two Australian states.
Nevertheless, a hastily arranged press briefing on Friday, featuring NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriaty and the chief veterinary officer Jo Coombe, revealed the virus might have spread to a third region.
Testing from a large petrel found near Hawks Nest—a location approximately 228 kilometers from Sydney—showed preliminary positive results for H5 influenza at the laboratory of Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute.
“This new finding is deeply troubling for both agriculture and wildlife conservation,” Moriaty expressed to the press.
“But NSW and the rest of the country have been preparing for this moment for many years.”
Coombe said crews would increase surveillance to detect any further cases.
“The State Coordination Centre has been stood up in Orange, we have established the H5 bird flu call centre and we are briefing all key stakeholders on the current situation,” Coombe said.
“We are using the best available data now to target actions for our most at-risk wildlife species and important natural places.”
Until June, Australia had been the only continent free of the highly contagious virus, which has wiped out millions of birds worldwide and also killed mammals.
Five birds have returned positive results for the strain since it was first detected on the Australian mainland on 14 June.
They were a brown skua found in Esperance, WA, on 14 June, two giant petrels found in Esperance, a giant petrel found at Quindalup, south of Perth, and a giant petrel found on South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula on 14 June.
All positive cases have occurred in wild birds, with no signs the virus has spread to local poultry populations.
There has also been no evidence of mass mortality in wildlife.
A temporary ban on poultry products from Australia imposed by Papua New Guinea’s National Agriculture and Quarantine Inspection Authority was lifted on 24 June.
People are being urged to avoid contact with sick or dead wildlife, report any finds to an emergency hotline, record locations, and take photos.