Australia confirms local H5 bird flu spread in wild birds

Australia has confirmed local transmission of the highly contagious H5 bird flu virus among wild birds, the nation's chief veterinary officer said on Wednesday.

Chief government veterinary officer Beth Cookson said testing had shown the virus spreading among greater crested terns living on the coast in South Australia.

“This news of some local transmission may mean we start to see wider spread among wild birds,” Cookson said. She said losses in susceptible wildlife would not be avoidable if the virus became widespread in wild bird populations.

Australia had for years been the only continental landmass free of the H5 strain, which has caused severe disease and death in poultry and wild birds worldwide. The first Australian case was found in a migratory seabird in June.

Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said there was no evidence of mass mortalities to date, little risk to human health and that Australia's poultry industry remained unaffected.

The national science laboratory this week confirmed seven cases in greater crested terns in South Australia, bringing the national total to 27 positive detections.

Four suspected cases of bird flu were reported on Wednesday on Kangaroo Island, a South Australian tourism destination with a significant population of endangered sea lions. South Australia's primary industries minister, Clare Scriven, said beach tours would be suspended to protect the animals.

The wild birds most affected by H5 include waterfowl, shorebirds, seabirds and birds of prey. Marine mammals have also been affected overseas, and detections have also been reported in animals including cats, goats, alpacas and pigs.

Australian scientists said in June that H5 bird flu killed more than 13,000 elephant seal pups after infecting a breeding colony on the remote Heard and McDonald Islands.