October 18th, 2024Warning on H5N1 bird flu strain

Do not be complacent. That’s the main message to Australians as the latest strain of bird flu virus is rated as representing a genuine health risk to people as well as to birds and other animals.

As Australia prepares for the forecast arrival on its shores of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza, the federal government says it will spend $95 million to help counter the threat.

The bird flu strain has reduced egg production, caused sudden death among wild birds and some mammal species in other countries and has also caused respiratory illness.

The H5N1 strain of avian influenza is different to the strain that led to egg shortages in Australian supermarkets earlier this year and, while Australia is the only continent without H5N, chief medical officer Paul Kelly is warning that it’s only a matter of time.

Director of the Biodiversity Council, James Trezise says the most pressing impact was on birds and mammals, but the flu does also pose “genuine risks to  people”.

Mr Trezise says the strain of bird flu could be an extinction level event for a number of Australian wildlife. 

“We’ve seen it basically collapse bird and mammal populations overseas,” he says.

“What’s really important is that people follow the guidelines around that have been developed by Wildlife Health Australia about what to do if they encounter dead or large numbers of dead birds that might be impacted by avian influenza,” Mr Trezise says.

“It’s really, really important that we don’t take it for granted, that it’s just isolated to birds, but we follow the guidelines to make sure that people don’t inadvertently contract or spread H5N1.”