Everything you need to know about Australia's bird flu surge
There are more than a hundred confirmed cases of the deadly H5N1 bird flu strain across Australia. Here's how it spreads and what to know.
A deadly strain of bird flu, H5N1, has spread across Australia, affecting more than a hundred cases and five states, with South Australia bearing the brunt. The government released a risk analysis ranking over two thousand native birds and mammals, finding 386 species at high to extreme risk of survival. The environment minister expressed concern over the virus's potential to impact mammals like seals, sea lions, and dolphins.
The sub-Antarctic Heard Island experienced mass mortality among baby seals due to the virus. H5N1 has also infected at least 30,000 sea lions and caused over 17,000 southern elephant seal deaths in Argentina. University of New South Wales seabird ecologist Simon Gorta expressed shock at the impact on these species, emphasizing the serious conservation concerns due to their vulnerability and other threats.
The federal government's biosecurity measures started on July 31, with state and territory governments handling surveillance and biosecurity advice. The public's role in reporting sick or dead birds to the emergency animal disease hotline is crucial. Australia and New Zealand are the last regions impacted by this global disease, making citizen vigilance essential.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written; read the original for the full account.
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