Tasmania records first case of H5N1 bird flu, confirmed after a brown skua was found at Rocky Cape

Tasmania has recorded its first case of H5N1 bird flu, making it the sixth Australian State to have the strain.

Minister for primary industries and water Gavin Pearce made the announcement on Thursday morning.

He said the case was recorded in a brown skua bird which was found at Burgess Cove at Rocky Cape on the north-west coast of the State.

Overnight testing confirmed that the bird had H5N1 bird flu.

Mr Pearce said the Tasmanian government was responding in accordance with their bird flu response plan.

“We have completed aerial surveys of more than 980km of Tasmania’s coastline, across the west coast, King Island and the Islands of the Furneaux Group as well as places that are home to our seabird populations,” he said.

“It is important that we are clear there is no evidence of an outbreak and there is no detection in commercial poultry in Tasmania at this time.”

Mr Pearce reminded Tasmanians that human infection was “extremely rare” and there had been no recorded human transmission recorded in Australia but it was important that everyone remained vigilant.

“Early detection and strong biosecurity are our best defences and this will help protect all Tasmanians and our unique wildlife and poultry industries,” he said.

“All Tasmanians out there today, to all our communities, it is vitally important that if you see a sick bird, or other wildlife, the first thing is avoid it, avoid contact with that animal or that bird.

“Secondly, record it using your phone or another device.

“We need to know the species and the location of that animal.

“Finally, you need to report it, data is key and information is vital.

“The communities’ involvement in our response to this flu is crucial.”

Mr Pearce was joined by Deputy Premier Guy Barnett, who said the State had been preparing for H5N1 for months.

“We know Tasmanians love their animals and we know an H5 bird flu outbreak will be distressing for our community,’ he said.

“However, we must be prepared for the risk of a mass mortality event.”

He said the orange-bellied parrot was at particular risk of infection.

Other species included the Tasmanian Devil, the shire albatross, the short-tailed shearwater, the white-fronted tern, the fairy tern, the little tern, species of seals and the Australasian gannet.

Mr Barnett said 350 parrots would be vaccinated once necessary approvals are received.

“There is no way to prevent new strains of bird flu entering or spreading through Tasmania with mild and migratory birds,” he said.

“Little penguins are likely to be affected all around Tasmania.

“Tasmania is taking a national approach to the use of vaccinations to protect some of Australia’s most vulnerable native birds from H5 bird flu.

“Little penguins are a much loved and treasured species but they are not threatened or considered a priority species for a vaccination program given their wide distribution.

“Vaccination is a complementary tool that may help reduce severe disease and mortality in selected captive or managed native bird populations.

“A management team is coordinating planning, aerial drone observations and surveillance. We are asking Tasmanians to stay vigilant and remember three simple words - avoid, record, report.”

As of Wednesday night, there had been 151 confirmed H5 bird flu “events” Australia wide including SA (93), Victoria (43), WA (10), NSW (four) and Queensland (one).

There were more than 300 infections confirmed on Wednesday, a day after the federal government rolled out vaccines for captive populations of threatened birds.

The H5 strain, which arrived in Australia in June, has killed hundreds of millions of poultry worldwide and devastated wild bird and marine mammal populations.

- With AP

Any suspected cases of bird flu should be reported reported to the emergency animal disease hotline on 1800 675 888.