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Bird flu mass mortality points to 'significant losses' for wildlife
A large group of dead and sick greater crested terns have tested positive to H5 bird flu. (Supplied: Matthew Fainman/iNaturalist/Creative Commons)
Testing has confirmed the first mass mortality from H5 bird flu in Australian wildlife on an island off South Australia's south-east coast.
Agriculture Minister Julie Collins says Australians can expect to see greater disease spread, with larger numbers of wildlife impacted.
The first mass mortality of Australian wildlife from the deadly H5 bird flu has been confirmed in greater crested terns found on an island off South Australia's south-east coast.
It follows testing of samples from dead and sick birds detected by aerial surveillance on an island called Baudin Rocks, about 5 kilometres south of Cape Jaffa in South Australia, on Friday.
‘Just the beginning’: First mass deaths from H5N1 bird flu confirmed
Bird flu has become established on the Australian mainland, with the federal government confirming that dozens of greater crested terns at Boudin Rocks off Cape Jaffa in South Australia have tested positive for the H5NI, which has killed more than 300 million animals around the world.
A seagull collected in Robe, South Australia, has also tested positive to the disease.
“Sadly, we do know that once the H5 bird flu is spreading in wildlife, and the natural environment, it is not possible to avoid significant losses – which is what we are starting to see now,” said Agriculture Minister Julie Collins during a press conference on Monday, adding authorities would continue to monitor the spread of the virus through Australian wildlife.
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Brian is turning some visitors away from his farm — and he's not the only one
SBS acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country and their connections and continuous care for the skies, lands and waterways throughout Australia.
For 60 years, Brian Ahmed has farmed the same stretch of land in Melbourne's east. These days, getting past the farm's gate isn't easy — his birds need all the protection they can get.
"At the moment, because of all the concerns with Avian influenza … I'd say all farms now have increased their biosecurity levels," he told SBS News.
"The less people we have on our farms, the less chance of anything coming on.
"Our number one priority is to protect our birds, and the best way we can do that is to make sure they don't mix with anyone that they don't need to."
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