The Invasive Species Council says the first suspected case of highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu in New South Wales is another stark reminder that Australia must prepare for the virus to spread more widely through native wildlife and should urgently invest in a $200 million wildlife resilience package.
The suspected case follows confirmed H5N1 detections in Western Australia and South Australia over the past fortnight and comes as authorities investigate another seabird found dead on the NSW coast.
‘Australia has spent years preparing for this moment and that preparation is paying off. Authorities are detecting cases quickly and responding rapidly, but surveillance alone won’t save our wildlife once this disease reaches vulnerable native species,’ Invasive Species Council Policy Director Dr Carol Booth said.
‘This killer disease has also been wiping out millions of birds around the world, including penguins in Antarctica. The impact this could have on Australia’s native birds and sea mammals as it continues to spread is frightening.
‘We are urgently calling on the Albanese Government to invest $200 million in a wildlife resilience package that would accelerate feral cat and fox control, restore habitat, protect important breeding sites and expand threatened species recovery programs.
‘The best defence we have is to make Australia’s wildlife as resilient as possible before widespread outbreaks occur. That means rebuilding healthy populations that are better able to withstand disease and recover afterwards.
‘This would be a practical, no-regrets investment that would leave Australia’s wildlife better placed to withstand not only bird flu but a range of other emerging threats.
‘We also urge the public to remain vigilant. If you find sick or dead birds or other wildlife, don’t touch them. Record the location and report it immediately through the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline.’
Dr Booth said there remained no evidence the virus had spread to Australian poultry flocks. Overseas experience showed H5N1 could have devastating consequences for wild birds and marine mammals if it became established.
The Invasive Species Council will continue working with governments, scientists and conservation organisations to ensure Australia is as prepared as possible for the impacts of H5N1 on native wildlife.
Media enquiries: (02) 8006 5004
Images of seals and sea birds available here.
Background:
What to look out for
- The public should avoid, record and report any unusual bird deaths immediately by calling the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
- Wildlife Health Australia have produced detailed advice for people who encounter sick or dead wild birds.
- Look for:
- Small groups of sick or dead wild birds of any species.
- Individual or less than 5 sick or dead wild seabirds, waterbirds, shorebirds or birds of prey (e.g. eagles, hawks)
- Infected live birds may show a wide range of signs if they are sick, including:
- lack of coordination, tremors, swimming in circles
- twisted necks or other unusual posture
- inability to stand or fly
- diarrhoea
- difficulty breathing, coughing or sneezing
- swelling around the head, neck and eyes
- cloudiness or change in colour of the eyes.
Australian H5N1 bird flu risk assessment:
- The Australian Government commissioned a risk assessment of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) which was released in July 2023.
- The assessment found that the risk of ‘HPAI virus exposure and establishment in resident wild birds’ is ‘moderate/high’ and that the impact of this would be ‘catastrophic’, leading to an overall risk of ‘high’.
- Some key findings from this assessment include:
- Extrapolating from global outbreaks of HPAI H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b, there are likely to be significant consequences associated with incursion and establishment of HPAI in Australia via wild birds given a moderate likelihood of incursions.
- The frequency of HPAI incursions into Australia via wild birds may be significantly lower compared with other continents and as a result, containment of outbreaks may be more achievable in the Australian context if they are identified early.
- Consequences to wild birds are assessed as CATASTROPHIC with moderate uncertainty, consequences to poultry are assessed as HIGH with moderate uncertainty and consequences to wild mammals are assessed as MINOR with moderate uncertainty.
- In multiple outbreaks the scale of mortality has been extremely high, often involving deaths of 100s, 1,000s or 10,000s of individuals with significant proportions of birds, resulting in mortality globally estimated to be in the millions.
- The Australian black swan has recently been determined to be highly susceptible.
Impacts overseas
- Globally, more than 600 bird species and more than 80 mammal species have been affected by H5 bird flu .
- Since arriving in South America in late 2022, bird flu has killed more than 30,000 South American sea lions, 17,000 southern elephant seal pups and unknown numbers of porpoises, dolphins and otters, as well as at least 650,000 native birds.
- The mortality rate of elephant seal pups in Argentina’s Península Valdés reached 95% in 2023 compared to only 1% in 2022.
- Mass mortality events have been observed in penguins and skuas since bird flu arrived in Antarctica in early 2024. The virus arrived at the end of the breeding season for birds and mammals, so even greater impact is expected in the warmer months.
- In the UK, H5N1 has wiped out about 30% of the country’s breeding population of roseate terns, great skua and gannets.
- Since 2020, there have been outbreaks in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North America, South America and Antarctica.
- Humans and other mammals can become infected through contact with live or dead infected animals, or contaminated environments. Current strains of avian influenza do not appear to transmit between humans.
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