Share this @internewscast.com
A deadly strain of bird flu has reached has reached one of Australia’s sub-Antarctic islands, the federal government has confirmed.
The confirmation on Tuesday comes after researchers from the Australian Antarctic Program observed unusually high levels of mortality among elephant seals on Heard Island — part of the Heard Island and McDonald Islands, an Australian external territory — last month.
“While this detection of H5 bird flu on Heard Island does not substantially increase risks to Australia, it does reinforce the ongoing need for Australia to remain focused on preparing for a potential outbreak,” Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said in a statement.
The results are not unexpected and do not substantially increase Australia’s current risk level, the government said.

Australia remains the sole continent spared from an outbreak of the highly infectious H5N1 strain, a virus that first emerged in 1996.

A map showing with Heard Island is in relation to Australia

According to SBS News, recent tests revealed no unusual bird fatalities on the island, including among penguin populations and other seabirds.

Globally, there has been a surge in H5N1 outbreaks in recent years, affecting both wild and domestic animal populations. It is estimated that millions of birds, both farmed and wild, have succumbed to the virus.

Notably, last year marked the first time that cattle were added to the list of animals affected by the virus, following its spread across several farms in the United States.

While Heard Island is very remote — located more than 4,000 kilometres south-west of Perth and 1,700 kilometres north of Antarctica — scientists say there’s still a possibility the disease could reach the Australian mainland.
That’s thanks to migratory birds, said Sanjaya Senanayake, specialist in infectious diseases at the Australian National University’s School of Medicine and Psychology.
“Birds can fly anywhere — there’s always the risk that this could happen, just as it has in the United States,” Senanayake told SBS News in October. “It is a reminder that this can happen.”

Last year, cattle were added to the list of animals infected by the virus after it spread across farms in multiple US states.

Senanayake said that means surveillance will be key, encouraging testing and quarantining to occur early if there’s even the “slightest suspicion” that bird or cattle populations in Australia are sick.
The Albanese government is investing more than $100 million to strengthen bird flu preparedness and enhance Australia’s national response capability, Collins said.
Minister for the Environment and Water Murray Watt said researchers were monitoring the global spread of bird flu “so that we are equipped with the best possible information for when it reaches our shores”.
He added that a second voyage to Heard Island, which is scheduled to arrive in late December, will gather further information about wildlife health.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Thieves swipe $40,000 of rescue gear from SES depot

Thieves Steal $40,000 in Vital Rescue Equipment from SES Depot, Raising Concerns Over Emergency Response

Thieves made off with $40,000 of crucial SES rescue equipment after breaking…
Raymond Reddington, Sharon Fulton

Justice Served: Husband Found Guilty in Decades-Old Cold Case Murder of Wife

It’s been nearly 40 years since Sharon Fulton went missing in Western…
General view of Yallourn Power Station (Luis Enrique Ascui/Australian Financial Review)

Firefighters Combat Intense Blaze for Five Hours at Victorian Power Station

Firefighters have spent nearly five hours battling to control a blaze inside…
WFH and four-day weeks impacting CBD businesses

The Decline of Friday Night Socials: Pubs Face Challenges Amid Remote Work Trend

A sharp rise in Australians choosing to work-from-home on Fridays is having…
Queensland rain

Queensland on High Alert: Double Cyclone Threat Looms – Prepare Now!

Records are tumbling in outback Queensland as days of rain cuts off…

US-Iran Negotiations Show Promising Progress: Will a Historic Deal Emerge?

IN brief Iran and the United States have ended talks in Geneva…
Shark warning after Sydney deluge floods city

Shark Alert Issued Following Sydney Flooding

Sydney swimmers are urged to be wary of sharks after the city…

Discover the Timeline to Achieve Your Dream Property ‘Pinch Me’ Moment

In brief Patricia Nicula has just bought her first home in Queensland,…
Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton Faces Congress: Denies Knowledge of Epstein’s Activities

Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told US House lawmakers on…

Tragic First: Australian Teen Jeremy Webb Dies from Rare Tick-Induced Red Meat Allergy

In brief Jeremy Webb was repeatedly bitten by ticks as a child,…

Shocking Arrest of Larrakia Elder Amid Heated NT Administrator Protests: Uncover the Controversy

On Friday morning, a significant gathering of protesters convened in a park…
A picture of an unidentified child at a childcare centre.

Nine Childcare Centers at Risk of Losing Funding After Falling Short of Standards

One childcare centre has closed and nine face suspension or funding cuts…