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Scientists have not recorded any unusual death rates among other wildlife on Heard Island, such as penguins and seabirds. This island is situated over 4,000 kilometers southwest of Perth in the Southern Ocean, making it a remote and isolated location.
The growing concern over outbreaks in animal populations worldwide has led to increased vigilance. In recent years, both wild and domestic animals have been affected, with millions of birds, whether farmed or wild, succumbing to various diseases.
Researchers have collected samples from the island, which will undergo further testing upon their return to Australia in November. These samples will be transported on the icebreaker RSV Nuyina, ensuring they are preserved for thorough analysis upon arrival.
This proactive approach by scientists is crucial in understanding and mitigating the impact of disease outbreaks on global wildlife populations. The ongoing research will provide valuable insights into maintaining ecological balance on this isolated island and beyond.
Julie McInnes, a wildlife ecologist with the Australian Antarctic Division who is on board the RSV Nuyina ship in the Southern Ocean, said one of the trip’s objectives was to look for signs of H5 bird flu in seabirds and seals.
The majority of mortalities were detected in elephant seal pups and in a small number of adults on the island’s south-east coast, she said.
What does this mean for Australia?
“The possible presence of avian flu on Heard Island just reflects that infections can spread quite easily over continents”, he told SBS News.
Cattle were added to the list of animals infected by the virus last year, with the virus spreading across farms in multiple US states.
Scientists are concerned H5N1 has spread among elephant seals on Heard Island. Source: Getty / Anadolu
It’s a prompt for Australia to ensure “our surveillance remains very vigilant”, Senanayake said.
She encouraged people to visit birdflu.gov.au and report any mass bird deaths, reminding people not to touch the animals.
Concerns for wildlife
“We’d also probably expect to see impacts in some of the seabird populations,” she said.
“If it gets here, we will see [an] impact on wildlife, and there’s very little that can be done about that,” Younger said.
Collins said funding had been distributed to wildlife organisations to conduct more surveillance as part of the government’s preparations.
What’s the risk to humans?
The virus does not seem to easily infect humans or spread from person to person, according to the World Health Organization.
