Authorities are \u201cdoing everything\u201d they can to stop H5 bird flu infecting Australia\u2019s poultry farms, the minister leading the federal response has said while conceding \u201cwe cannot stop the spread of this virus\u201d.<\/p>\n
H5 bird flu is a highly contagious strain of avian influenza and has killed hundreds of millions of farmed and wild birds since its rapid global spread in 2021.<\/p>\n
Australia had avoided an outbreak until infected migratory birds brought the virus into the country in June.<\/p>\n
Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said on Sunday that there were no reports of H5 bird flu infecting poultry farms, but that the confirmed death of a little penguin in Victoria this week was what \u201cwe \u2026 expect to see as the H5 bird flu does make its way across the country\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re doing everything we can do as a government, but we cannot stop the spread of this virus,\u201d she told News24.<\/p>\n
If the virus spreads to poultry farms, the culls could spike food prices.<\/p>\n
Ms Collins said there was \u201cno evidence\u201d of it reaching the nation\u2019s poultry or agriculture systems, and that authorities had learned a lot from the two H7 incursions in recent years. <\/p>\n
\u201cSo we work really closely with industry around improving biosecurity on the ground,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know biosecurity is the strongest and our best response to the H5 bird flu.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo we\u2019ve certainly been doing everything we can do with industry there to make sure that we\u2019re as prepared as we can be, and I know states and territories are also working very closely with industry on the ground, and we have seen some housing orders, which is where we ask free-range chicken producers, egg producers, to bring their chickens inside.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Collins also said the outbreak was tracking with what was expected and what had been seen overseas.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will continue to see mass mortalities, particularly of birds,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also know that marine mammals are quite susceptible to the H5 bird flu, so we\u2019ll continue to track it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The death of the little penguin on Victoria\u2019s Philip Island came just days after the Albanese government announced it would vaccinate the species as part of action targeting thousands of birds.<\/p>\n
At reporting, federal and state officials had confirmed more than 250 events of H5 bird flu in wild birds.<\/p>\n
South Australia was well ahead with 166 events, while Victoria came in second at 74 followed by Western Australia with 10.<\/p>\n
Five events were confirmed in NSW, six in Tasmania and one in Queensland.<\/p>\n
The Australian Centre for Disease Control has declared the risk to humans \u201clow\u201d.<\/p>\n