The infamous H5 bird flu has likely made its way to Queensland’s shores for the very first time. With the virus being detected in 17 wild seabird cases across Australia, there’s a renewed sense of urgency about the threat it poses to animals already at risk.
A post-mortem on a petrel found on Moreton Island has returned a preliminary positive test for the highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza, according to the findings from Queensland’s Biosecurity Sciences Laboratory.
In order to confirm these findings, further samples have been dispatched to the CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness.
Carol Booth, who directs policy at the Invasive Species Council, has voiced concerns, emphasizing that the presence of the H5 bird flu in Queensland is a serious issue for those passionate about native wildlife conservation in Australia.
“The fact that bird flu has reached Queensland’s coastline is alarming. Every Australian who cares for our native wildlife must take notice,” Booth stated.
“We can’t stop this virus, but we can boost the capacity of wildlife to survive and recover from outbreaks.”
Australia reported its first case of H5 bird flu on 20 June, and there are now 17 confirmed detections of the serious H5 strain in wild seabirds — 10 in Western Australia, five in South Australia and two in NSW.
Fears of ‘devastating’ impact to wildlife
Booth said surveillance efforts were working but warned they would not be enough once the virus hit vulnerable species.
“Finding cases is only the first step — once this disease reaches vulnerable wildlife populations, surveillance won’t prevent the devastating impacts we’ve seen overseas,” she said.
“Millions of wild birds and marine mammals have died, and unless we do everything we can to strengthen the resilience of at-risk populations, there’s every reason to fear Australia could face similar losses.”
There have been no detections in poultry and no evidence of large-scale deaths in any animals in Queensland, according to the Department of Primary Industries.
Chicken and eggs still safe to eat, minister says
“It is safe to continue to eat chicken meat or eggs, and I would encourage Queenslanders to purchase these products as they normally would,” said Queensland’s Primary Industries Minister Tony Perrett.
Queensland’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Allison Crook, said the suspected positive result was anticipated and the state was well prepared.
“We have known that a H5 bird flu detection in Queensland was a matter of when, not if,” Crook said.
“This suspect positive result has not impacted our poultry sector or native wildlife and we are continuing our enhanced passive surveillance program throughout the state and would encourage the community and industry to continue to be vigilant.”
Booth continued to urge the federal government to back a major “wildlife resilience” package to help species withstand bird flu and other threats.
“We are urgently calling on the Albanese government to invest $200 million in a wildlife resilience package that would reduce the other pressures pushing vulnerable species towards extinction,” she said.
“These are practical, no-regrets investments that will help wildlife withstand bird flu while also making Australia better prepared for future disease outbreaks and other environmental threats.”
Both state authorities and conservationists are urging Queenslanders, and those further afield, to remain vigilant.