SYDNEY: The major Australian state of New South Wales confirmed a case of the H5 avian influenza in a wild bird, bringing the total number of cases nationwide to six just two weeks after it was first detected on the mainland.
"The NSW government has been preparing for a positive result for some time and there is a clear plan in place to support industry and the community,” NSW Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said in a statement. "At this stage the result is limited to a single migratory seabird and has not impacted our poultry sector or domestic wildlife.”
The latest confirmed case in New South Wales places the virus for the first time on Australia’s heavily-populated east coast, which includes some of the largest agricultural hubs in the country.
"There is no impact on the supply of chicken meat or eggs and I would encourage everyone to purchase these products as they normally would,” Moriarty said.
The H5 avian influenza was first detected in the state of Western Australia in a dead migratory seabird, confirming the virus’s spread to every continent on the planet. Three other cases have been found in Western Australia, with one more still awaiting confirmation. A single case was registered in the state of South Australia, also in a wild bird.
The case in New South Wales was initially detected on Friday (July 3), after which it was sent to the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness to confirm the pathogen. Australia’s Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said on Friday at a press conference that while the detections were "disappointing, this is a sign that our strong biosecurity system is working.”
"There is no evidence of any mass mortalities at this time due to the H5 bird flu, nor is there any evidence of it in any other animal populations at this point in time. There is also no evidence of infection in our poultry or agricultural systems, and that there continues to be a low risk to human health,” she said.
Australian authorities are concerned about the potential impact on both native wildlife and the agriculture sector from the potential spread of avian influenza in the country. In the US, the H5 virus has spread not just to chickens but also other farm animals including dairy cattle.
"Poultry producers are reminded that on-farm biosecurity practices are crucial to protect the health of their flocks,” Sam Hamilton, acting Australian chief veterinary officer, said in a statement after the latest detection.
Members of the public in Australia have been advised to report any sick or dead birds they see, and to avoid touching or interacting with them. - Bloomberg
