Federal Agricultural Minister confirms new H5 bird flu case detected in migratory bird near Esperance

Another H5 bird flu case has been confirmed off WA’s coast after a migratory bird was found dead near Esperance on the State’s south west coast.

It was one of five deceased petrels found by a member of the public on Roses Beach, 30km west of the town, with samples from the four other birds returning a negative result.

Federal Agricultural Minister Julie Collins confirmed the case on Tuesday, saying it now marked the fifth case in Australia.

“Four of these detections were from sea birds found in Western Australia, and the one sea bird that was found in South Australia,” she said.

“As of this afternoon, there remains no new suspected positives in state testing.”

Ms Collins also confirmed that a suspected case in Victoria had returned a negative result.

“There remains no evidence of any mass mortalities involved,” she said.

“There is no evidence currently of infection in our poultry or agriculture systems, and there remains a low risk of human health.”

Two of WA’s previously confirmed cases were found near Esperance — a wild brown skua first found sick in an isolated area of Cape Le Grand National Park on June 14, and a giant petrel found in the same area less than a fortnight later.

The State’s third case was another petrel detected at Quindalup in the South West.

Australia’s chief veterinary officer Beth Cookson said almost 100 negative tests had been reported nationally since the first brown skua case was confirmed.

She urged Australians who come across dead or sick wildlife to avoid contact with the animal, report it and collect evidence like photos and videos.

“I do want to thank the members of the public for their assistance in reporting sick or dead wildlife. This is a sign of our strong biosecurity system working,” she said.

After multiple detections near Esperance, a patrol vessel owned by the State’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has been deployed to conduct surveillance along the coastline.

The vessel’s crew will observe wildlife colonies for any signs of ill health and death.

They will also monitor if there are unusually low numbers of species that would normally populate the islands in the Recherche Archipelago during winter months.

Shadow Agriculture Minister Darren Chester said he was “confident” that Australia was prepared to respond to the bird flu detections but warned “we have to prepare for the worst”.

“Obviously, we are hoping for the best but we have to prepare for the worst, this strain of bird flu has been devastating in other continents,” he said.

“We’re confident that the processes are in place in partnership with local and state governments, and the reporting mechanisms are there.

“I’d encourage the public to make sure, if you do come across a bird in the wild, which is unwell, not to touch the bird, to contact local authorities and allow the testing to occur.”

Mr Chester also urged Australians to keep buying poultry products, assuring them the virus has only been found in migratory birds and has not impacted the commercial farming industry.

National Farmers Federation’s Warwick Ragg said the industry was being thoroughly briefed but did not downplay the seriousness of the threat.

“This is a significant issue of significant concern,” he said.

“There are substantial responses in place but let’s not lose sight of this. This is migratory birds.

“You can’t stop migratory birds, migrating. We need to manage it as best we can as they come to our shores.”