Testing underway after first suspected case of deadly bird flu found in NSW

The first suspected case of the highly pathogenic bird flu in NSW has been confirmed, with testing underway to confirm the risk severity.

The state’s Agriculture Minister, Tara Moriarty, confirmed the case in a press conference this morning, stating that the severity of the strain is now being tested.

“We don’t know yet if it is the worst strain of the virus,” she said.

Moriarty said that samples from a wild Giant Petrel near Hawks Nest, on the state’s Mid North Coast, tested positive for H5 influenza at a NSW lab.

A member of the public spotted the sick bird and reported it immediately, with official results expected tomorrow.

The risk to humans remains low, and the deadly disease has not been detected in commercial poultry flocks, captive birds or any other birds in the state.

NSW Chief Veterinary Officer Jo Coombe said that the sick migratory seabird does not typically “make land unless it is sick”.

“[We have] trained more than 500 additional staff, including Local Land Services and National Parks and Wildlife Service field officers, to undertake surveillance for H5 bird flu,” Coombe said.

“Symptoms of bird flu are birds that look lethargic, they often show respiratory signs of flu just like humans do… they may have watery eyes [or] difficulty breathing.”

NSW is the third state where the deadly flu has been detected, after four confirmed cases in Western Australia and South Australia.

The H5 bird flu is a viral disease that mostly affects wild birds but can also infect other mammals.

On rare occasions, the bird flu can affect humans. This only happens if a person has close, unprotected contact with infected birds or livestock.

There has been no confirmed human-to-human transmission of the flu that has been spreading globally since 2021.

The birds most affected have been seabirds, waterfowl, shorebirds, birds of prey and other scavengers.

According to the Department of Agriculture, it has been detected in domestic pets such as cats and dogs and farm animals including dairy cows, dolphins, seals and wild foxes.

The disease could pose a catastrophic risk to the nation’s unique wildlife that have never been exposed to the virus.

Invasive Species Council Policy Director, Dr Carol Booth, said that the impact the disease could have on Australian native birds and sea mammals is “frightening”.

“This killer disease has also been wiping out millions of birds around the world, including penguins in Antarctica.

“The best defence we have is to make Australia’s wildlife as resilient as possible before widespread outbreaks occur.

“That means rebuilding healthy populations that are better able to withstand disease and recover afterwards,” Booth said.

Official confirmation of the positive samples is expected tomorrow.