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Breaking News & General Assignment
PublishedJuly 27, 20263 min read
Australia is tracking seven new suspected cases of H5 bird flu found in wild seabirds along the coast of South Australia, officials announced Monday, as the country’s outbreak of the strain continues to spread through migratory and native bird populations.
All seven suspected cases were detected in greater crested terns on the Limestone Coast in the state’s South East, SA Minister for Primary Industries Clare Scriven said. Five were found at Southend, near Beachport, with one at Port MacDonnell and one at Cape Jaffa. Of the five birds found at Southend, four were sick and one was deceased.
If confirmed, the cases would bring South Australia’s total to 14. Nationally, Australia has recorded 20 confirmed H5 bird flu cases across South Australia, Western Australia, New South Wales and Queensland. All have been detected in migratory and seabirds.
Lab sequencing to determine local transmission
Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said the birds have been sent to the CSIRO laboratory in Geelong for sequencing to determine whether local transmission has occurred.
“We will provide an update as soon as I get those CSIRO lab tests back, they may take some time for the sequencing to be done,” Ms Collins said. “At this time there are no mass mortalities, there is no evidence of any H5 bird flu in our poultry or agricultural systems and the risk to human health remains low.”
SA chief veterinary officer Skye Fruean said results were expected within one or two days. She said it was too early to say whether local transmission had occurred.
“The overseas experience has shown that we do expect it to spread, we don’t know how quickly and where,” Ms Fruean said. “We don’t know what this is going to mean for Australia but we are preparing for the worst.”
First case on a metro beach
On Sunday, the CSIRO confirmed two native birds found dead on separate SA beaches tested positive for the H5 strain. One greater crested tern was found near Robe. The second was found near the Semaphore Surf Life Saving Club, marking the first time a case has been detected on a metropolitan beach in the state.
Scriven said a community forum on bird flu would be held Monday night at Glenelg to answer questions from locals and provide public health and safety advice.
Stepped-up coastal surveillance
All seven suspected cases were reported by members of the public through the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline, Fruean said. Authorities are now increasing both aerial surveillance and foot patrols in areas where high-risk seabird species, including crested terns, are expected to gather.
Collins said states and territories have been conducting extensive triaging and testing across the country, with detections so far running along the coast.
For Northeast Philadelphia readers watching the global spread of bird flu, the Australian outbreak remains confined to wild birds. No cases have been found in poultry or agricultural systems, and officials say the risk to human health remains low. Lab results on the latest suspected cases are expected within days.
Exposing the Big Game 