Arabic version: اكتشاف سبع حالات مشتبه بها لإنفلونزا الطيور H5 في جنوب أستراليا

According to ABC News, seven new suspected cases of H5 bird flu have been detected in greater crested terns in South Australia’s South East, including five detections at the same site over two days.

South Australia’s Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Clare Scriven, said five birds were found at Southend, near Beachport, while one was found at Port Macdonnell and another at Cape Jaffa, all on the Limestone Coast. Of the five birds at Southend, four were sick and one was dead. All seven suspected cases were identified after reports to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline.

The birds have been sent to a CSIRO laboratory in Geelong for sequencing tests to establish whether local transmission has occurred. Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said an update would be provided once the laboratory results were available, noting sequencing could take time. South Australia’s chief veterinary officer, Skye Fruean, said results were expected in one or two days.

Collins said there were no mass mortalities, no evidence of H5 bird flu in poultry or agricultural systems, and that the risk to human health remained low. Australia has recorded 20 confirmed cases of the strain across South Australia, Western Australia, New South Wales and Queensland, with all cases detected in migratory and seabirds.

If the seven new suspected cases are confirmed as H5, South Australia’s total would rise to 14, Scriven said. Authorities are increasing aerial surveillance and foot patrols in areas where high-risk seabirds, including crested terns, are expected. CSIRO confirmed on Sunday that two native birds found dead on separate South Australian beaches — near Robe and near the Semaphore Surf Life Saving Club — tested positive for H5. A community forum on bird flu is scheduled at Glenelg tonight.