Australia Confirms First Mass Animal Death Due to Bird Flu

Australia confirmed the first mass death of wildlife related to the deadly H5 bird flu, with a large-billed gull found on Baudin Rocks, an island off the southeast coast of South Australia.

The dead and sick birds were detected on Friday (31/7) during aerial surveillance at Baudin Rocks, about 5 kilometers south of Cape Jaffa, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

ABC said samples collected from the site were later found to be positive for H5 avian influenza.

Australia, which remained the only continent free of the deadly virus until June 14, has since only detected bird flu in migratory subantarctic seabirds, mostly giant petrels, found on the beaches of South Australia, Western Australia and New South Wales.

The country has recorded 74 confirmed cases of the virus so far, including 54 in South Australia, 10 in Western Australia, seven in Victoria, two in New South Wales, and one in Queensland.

Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said the mass deaths were expected.

"Unfortunately, we know that once H5 bird flu spreads in wildlife and the natural environment, it is impossible to avoid significant losses, as we are starting to see now," Collins said, quoted by ANTARA from Anadolu, Monday, August 3.

Collins said there was no evidence of bird flu in poultry or the farming system and the risk to human health remained low.

"We have invested and worked very closely with our agricultural sector, particularly the poultry sector, in terms of improving and strengthening biosecurity to do everything we can to prevent it from entering our agricultural system," Collins said.

"But you tend to see the impact of transmission around the world related to H5," he continued.

Collins said Australians could expect bird flu to continue to spread, with more wildlife affected.

"The reality is you can't stop native and wild birds flying, and you can't stop wild animals moving, and that will mean more mass die-offs like we've seen now," Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt said.

Watt said it was the start of "what is likely to be a long and difficult journey in terms of impacts on wildlife."

He said the national management plan for H5 bird flu had been activated, with an additional $24 million (Rp303 billion) in funding from state and federal governments.