Arabic version: تسمانيا تسجل أول حالة مؤكدة لإنفلونزا الطيور H5N1

According to ABC News, Tasmania has confirmed its first case of H5N1 bird flu after testing overnight found the virus in a deceased brown skua discovered at Burgess Cove, Rocky Cape, on the state’s north-west coast.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania said Parks and Wildlife Service staff undertaking active coastal surveillance alerted it to the bird’s carcass. The government said the detection was a single case and was not considered an outbreak, with no detection in commercial poultry.

Primary Industries and Water Minister Gavin Pearce said Tasmania was prepared to respond and would enact its bird flu response plan. Department secretary Jason Jacobi said the virus’s arrival in the state had been inevitable, noting infected brown skuas had been identified in other Australian states.

Further analysis at CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness in Geelong is expected to provide sequencing information that could help determine where the skua contracted the virus. The government has also completed aerial surveys covering more than 980 kilometres of coastline under its early-detection plan.

Authorities said H5N1 could affect native species, including the endangered orange-bellied parrot. A plan to vaccinate about 350 orange-bellied parrots would be enacted; permit conditions mean they will be the only species vaccinated. The government urged people not to touch sick, injured or dead birds or wildlife, and to report them through the emergency animal disease hotline on 1800 675 888 or an online form.