(BRISBANE, Australia) – A suspected case of H5 avian influenza has been detected in a wild seabird on Moreton Island, off the coast of Queensland. A dead petrel was found washed up on the island’s eastern shore on Saturday. Initial testing at a local laboratory returned a positive result for the virus. The samples have now been sent to a CSIRO facility in Victoria for confirmation.
The discovery marks Queensland’s first potential case of the highly pathogenic H5 strain. If confirmed, it would widen the geographic spread of detections in Australian wild birds. Since last month, 17 cases of the H5 strain have been recorded nationally. Western Australia has reported 10 cases, South Australia five, and New South Wales two.
The H5 strain has caused severe losses in wild bird and mammal populations globally. Experts note that in some regions, the virus has wiped out up to 50 percent of certain seabird and pelican colonies. Despite this, no cases of the H5 strain have been found in Australian chicken meat or egg farms. Industry bodies say poultry producers have strengthened biosecurity measures and are following preparedness plans.
Queensland authorities said early investment had been made to ready the state for an outbreak. They noted, however, that the strain is highly contagious and aggressive. The Australian Centre for Disease Control has assessed the risk to human health as low. Transmission of avian influenza to humans is rare, and human to human spread is even rarer.
Conservation groups have urged governments to increase spending on wildlife protection. They argue that if wild populations face declines of 30 to 40 percent, every other possible protective action must be taken to build resilience.
Members of the public who find a sick or dead bird have been warned not to touch it. Sightings should be reported to the emergency animal disease hotline immediately.