Australia reports 102 H5 bird flu detections

Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry said on August 4 that the country had 102 confirmed or presumed H5 bird flu detections in wild birds across five states. The count covered Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria, according to federal updates and Wildlife Health Australia. Officials said all detections so far were in wild birds, not poultry or the broader farm production system. The human health risk remained low, the department said. ### Where did the 102 figure come from? The 102 figure came from samples tested up to August 4, according to a statement attributed to Australian Chief Veterinary Officer Beth Cookson. DAFF said South Australia had reached 81 detections by then, and Victoria had one further positive result from Portland through its state laboratory. Farm Weekly and sister publication Queensland Country Life described the spread in wild birds as “unstoppable” in some areas as surveillance widened and millions of migratory birds were expected in coming months. (agriculture.gov.au) That wording appeared in media coverage rather than in the federal department’s own statement. ### Which states and birds were involved? (agriculture.gov.au) Wildlife Health Australia said on August 6 that H5 bird flu had been confirmed in five jurisdictions: Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria. The agency said detections to date had involved brown skuas, giant petrels, greater crested terns, silver gulls and an Australian magpie. (queenslandcountrylife.com.au) DAFF’s national outbreak page said that by 11 a.m. AEST on August 6, the total had risen to 123 confirmed detections in wild birds: 87 in South Australia, 23 in Victoria, 10 in Western Australia, 2 in New South Wales and 1 in Queensland. The same page said there had still been no detections in poultry or the wider agriculture industry. ### Why are officials focused on South Australia? South Australia recorded Australia’s first confirmed mass mortality event in wildlife from H5 bird flu, according to DAFF’s August 4 update. (wildlifehealthaustralia.com.au) The department said the Baudin Rocks detection followed an investigation into more than 80 sick or dead wild birds, including six confirmed positives there — five greater crested terns and one silver gull. (agriculture.gov.au) Wildlife Health Australia said local transmission in wild birds was continuing in South Australia and that mortality events in susceptible species were likely based on overseas experience. The agency said H5 bird flu was expected to remain an ongoing wildlife disease requiring continued monitoring and management rather than a short-term event that could be eradicated from wild birds. (agriculture.gov.au) ### Has the virus reached farms or people? DAFF said on August 4 and again on August 6 that there were no detections in poultry or in Australia’s agricultural production system. The department also said the risk to human health remained low. The department’s public guidance says people should not touch sick or dead birds, should record the location, and should report multiple sick or dead birds or other animals to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline. (wildlifehealthaustralia.com.au) DAFF lists the hotline number as 1800 675 888. ### What happens next? As of August 6, Wildlife Health Australia said a national surveillance plan was in place to track ongoing detections and monitor risks to species. (agriculture.gov.au) The group said state and territory biosecurity agencies were leading response work on the ground, while national coordination was being led by DAFF and confirmatory testing was being done at CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness. (agriculture.gov.au) DAFF said updated detection counts were being posted on its H5 bird flu outbreak pages, and its August 6 statement reported 22 additional positives since the August 4 tally — 16 in Victoria and six in South Australia. (agriculture.gov.au) (wildlifehealthaustralia.com.au)