Authorities in New South Wales, Australia, have identified the first suspected case of the deadly H5N1 avian influenza on the country’s east coast. The sample testing from a sick migratory giant petrel near Hawks Nest showed positive for the highly pathogenic strain. This would mark the sixth case of H5N1 on the Australian mainland and the first on the east coast if confirmed.
Tara Moriarty, the NSW minister for agriculture, mentioned that the samples are undergoing confirmatory testing by the national science agency. The state government has informed the poultry industry about the suspected case to ensure preparedness. Notably, all previous cases were found in migratory birds, with four in Western Australia and one in South Australia.
NSW’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Jo Coombe, emphasized that Australian authorities have long been prepared for a potential outbreak of the H5N1 strain. The H5N1 avian influenza virus, a subtype that affects birds and mammals, including rare human cases, has been a global concern since its emergence in 1996. The recent variant, H5 clade 2.3.4.4b, has caused significant bird and poultry deaths worldwide since 2020.
