Bird flu concerns rise on the Victorian coast

AS of 8 July, seven cases of H5 Bird Flu have been confirmed (or presumed) in Australia, with CSIRO’s Geelong-based Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) lab at the centre of testing.

A statement from Australian Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Beth Cookson, said the case was found in a giant petrel in Western Australia.

This case is the fourth after two others in WA and one in SA.

Cookson said samples are currently at CSIRO’s ACDP for another suspected positive detection found at Roses Beach in WA.

“At this stage, there have only been detections in vagrant migratory seabirds that occasionally visit southern Australia.”

“There remains no evidence of any mass mortality events and there are no detections in poultry or in our agricultural production system.”

As cases continue to be found, concerns have increased for its arrival in Victoria, but experts say the current detections are still limited to occasional seabird visitors.

Dr Sara Ryding, a post-doctoral research fellow at Deakin University said Australia’s lack of migratory ducks may have helped delay the virus’s arrival, with seabirds now appearing to play the bigger role in spread.

Whilst bird flu strains are already present in Australian populations, Ryding said the current strain is concerning because it can infect a wide range of species, including mammals, and can cause mass mortalities.

Ryding said the disease remains a biosecurity risk for wildlife researchers and the public, especially when dead birds are found on beaches.

“We can’t stop wildlife from moving around, so what’s important is to have really good surveillance,” she said.

She also urged people not to handle sick or dead birds themselves, saying they should be reported so trained professionals with proper PPE can assess them.

A CSIRO spokesperson said the Geelong laboratory is supporting the national response by testing suspected H5 bird flu cases and carrying out confirmatory testing and further analysis to help inform decisions.

They said CSIRO’s ACDP plays a leading role in helping detect, track and control the spread of bird flu across the region.

Great Ocean Road Tourism has also weighed in, issuing a notice to alert DEECA of any suspicious sick or dead birds, and reminding locals and tourists not to make contact with any of these birds.