Abu dhabi: The Australian government has confirmed the first mainland case of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza in a migratory bird found in Western Australia (WA).
According to Emirates News Agency, Julie Collins, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, informed reporters in Canberra that testing by the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness confirmed the presence of the virus. A brown skua discovered in a southern WA national park on 14th June was found to have died from the H5N1 strain.
This detection marks the first confirmed case on the Australian mainland of this highly pathogenic strain, which has been spreading worldwide since 2020. The strain has been responsible for the deaths of millions of birds and other animals globally.
In a related finding, a second bird, a giant petrel, was found sick nearby on Thursday and has been placed under quarantine as a precautionary measure.