The Invasive Species Council says the suspected detection of 7 new cases of highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu in greater crested terns at the same site in South Australia may mark a significant turning point in Australia’s outbreak, raising concerns the virus is now spreading within local wild bird populations.
The new cases follow recent detections in Western Australia, New South Wales and Queensland and come as experts warn Australia is entering the period when the virus could begin causing widespread impacts on native wildlife.
‘This is the announcement conservationists have been dreading,’ Invasive Species Council Policy Director Dr Carol Booth said.
‘If these cases represent local transmission, we’re entering a very different phase of this outbreak. Instead of isolated infected birds arriving on our shores, we’re potentially seeing the virus spreading through Australian wildlife.
‘We have watched this story unfold overseas. It starts with a handful of dead seabirds. Then breeding colonies begin collapsing. Beaches become littered with dead birds. Seal pups die in their thousands. Entire populations of vulnerable wildlife are pushed towards the brink.
‘No Australian wants to witness that happen here, but today is a reminder that it could.
‘Bird flu is not a disease we can eradicate from wild birds once it becomes established. Our job now is to give Australia’s wildlife the best possible chance of surviving what comes next.
‘What will determine how many of our native species survive this outbreak is how healthy and resilient those populations are before the virus reaches them.
‘That is why we’re calling on the Albanese Government to invest $200 million in a national wildlife resilience package that reduces the other pressures already driving species towards extinction.
‘That funding would accelerate feral cat and fox control, restore habitat, protect critical breeding sites and expand threatened species recovery programs.
‘These are practical, science-based actions that will help wildlife survive bird flu while making Australia better prepared for future disease outbreaks and other environmental shocks.
‘Governments also need to start planning for the workforce challenge this creates. Responding to bird flu will require enormous effort over many months, if not years, and we can’t afford for that response to come at the expense of tackling the other invasive species, diseases and environmental threats already harming Australia’s wildlife.
‘Every day we delay makes it harder for species that are already under enormous pressure.
‘If you see sick or dead wildlife, don’t touch it. Record the location if it’s safe to do so and report it immediately through the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline. Early reporting remains one of the best ways the public can help protect wildlife.’
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