Bird flu strain H5 detected in Australian seabird for first time
Quick Look
- The H5 strain of bird flu has been detected in an Australian seabird, a greater crested tern, for the first time.
- Agriculture Minister Julie Collins confirmed the finding in South Australia, bringing the total detections to 12, with no evidence of spread to agricultural settings or mass wildlife mortality.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The H5 strain of bird flu has been detected in an Australian seabird for the first time. Previous confirmed cases involved migratory birds from the sub-Antarctic region.
The H5 strain of bird flu has been detected in an Australian seabird for the first time.
Previous confirmed cases have involved migratory birds from the sub-Antarctic region.
Agriculture Minister Julie Collins says CSIRO lab testing has confirmed the deadly strain in a greater crested tern found in Robe in South Australia's Limestone Coast.
There have also been two further confirmed cases in South Australia and one in Western Australia, bringing the total number of detections to 12.
Ms Collins says there is still no evidence of mass mortality among wildlife and no evidence of any spread to agricultural settings.
Open Questions
- How did the bird contract the virus?
- What are the long-term implications for seabird populations?
