Breaking: Australia records its first bird flu case in a mammal
A long-nosed fur seal found in South Australia tests positive for bird flu.
Australia has made history by confirming its first case of bird flu in a mammal. The seal, a long-nosed fur seal, was discovered in South Australia's Beachport, situated 300 kilometers south of Adelaide. Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins announced this concerning development during a press conference in Hobart.
Ms Collins emphasized that this marks the first time H5 bird flu has been detected in a mammal within Australia. While this is a worrisome situation, she noted that such infections in wildlife, especially marine mammals, are not surprising given the high infection rates among wild birds in the region.
Collins assured that there are no indications of the infection spreading to other marine mammals or affecting poultry and agricultural sectors. The source of this particular mammal's infection is believed to stem from exposure to infected wild birds or their shared environment.
As of now, a total of 298 positive H5 bird flu events have been recorded in Australia since the outbreak began. In response to this development, the Agriculture Minister plans to visit South Australia in the forthcoming days to assess the state's strategy for managing the H5 bird flu situation.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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