Deadly H5 bird flu has been confirmed in two Australian states after a migratory seabird tested positive for the disease in South Australia.
Western Australia also has another suspected positive case, in a southern giant petrel, found in the Quindalup region in the state’s south west.
That would bring the number of cases to four.
The South Australian premier, Peter Malinauskas, said a giant petrel had been found unwell on Knights Beach in Port Elliot on 14 June.
Speaking with federal agriculture minister Julie Collins in Canberra, the premier said authorities were alerted on 19 June to social media posts indicating the bird was in care with Wildlife Welfare Organisation SA.
He said authorities “responded quickly” and the animal was tested for H5 bird flu, with a positive result confirmed by the CSIRO on Wednesday.
Malinauskas said the government was in contact with volunteers who had come into contact with unwell birds and would prescribe the antiviral Tamiflu if necessary.
“It’s very, very important now that we have received a positive result from South Australia, that people are very aware that they can report any signs of bird life that is unwell or dead,” he said.
“They can do that through our hotline, which is again something I encourage people to call if in doubt.”
The WA agriculture minister, Jackie Jarvis, also confirmed a suspected case in that state in a press conference on Wednesday afternoon.
The state has been investigating reports from the public of dead and unwell birds after two migratory birds near Esperance tested positive last week for the deadly strain that has devastated wildlife populations globally.
Jarvis said test samples from the third case, a southern giant petrel also from the subantarctic region, had been sent to the CSIRO for confirmation.
More details soon…
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