The H5 strain of bird flu has been detected in a crested tern on King Island, marking the second confirmed case of the virus in Tasmania.<\/p>\n
Department of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) Tasmania staff collected the bird from the coast near Currie on Thursday, with testing overnight confirming the H5 strain.<\/p>\n
The bird had been reported through the Emergency Animal Disease hotline.<\/p>\n
Late yesterday afternoon, another two crested terns from the same location were also reported. Test results are expected on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Crested terns are common around coastal areas in Australia, including Tasmania.<\/p>\n
If a member of the public spots a sick or dead bird, they should avoid contact with the animal, record what they see and report it to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.<\/p>\n
To report sick or dead birds or other animalsCall the\u00a0\u200bEmergency Animal\u202fDisease Hotline\u202f1800 675 888 (24 hours)Use the online bird flu reporting form<\/a>Do not touch sick or dead birds or other animals.<\/p>\n To report sick or dead wildlife\u00a0(other than birds), please visit the\u00a0wildlife health in Tasmania<\/a> webpage.<\/p>\n At a press conference on Friday afternoon in Hobart, Premier Jeremy Rockliff said he wanted to “reassure Tasmanians we are prepared and are being proactive in our response”.<\/p>\n “The first bird flu case was found by a Parks and Wildlife staffer undertaking proactive checks.”<\/p>\n Gavin Pearce, Minister for Primary Industries and Water, urged owners of “backyard chickens” to take measures to keep the disease at bay.<\/p>\n “Keep them in an enclosed areas, ensure their water and food sources are undercover and in a secure place and cannot be contaminated by wild birds or animals.”<\/p>\n NRE’s Jason Jacobi said further testing of the first bird found infected in Tasmania had confirmed it was the same “highly pathogenic strain” of avian influenza as that on the mainland.<\/p>\n