Two dead seabirds have been collected and are being tested for the H5N1 bird flu virus in South Australia, following Australia’s first confirmed cases of the deadly variant this week.
Another two wild birds in Perth and WA’s Mid West also are being tested.
Warning: This story contains images readers may find distressing.
The SA birds, which are believed to be a white-headed petrel and another sub-species of petrel, were found washed up on the shores of Fowlers Bay Beach on South Australia’s west coast, 360 kilometres from the WA border.
BirdLife Australia says one of the birds found in SA is a sub-species of petrel, possibly a soft-plumaged petrel. (Supplied: Rod Keogh)
Both bird species, identified by BirdLife Australia, are subantarctic birds, meaning they breed or live in waters north of the Antarctic circle.
A pelican was also found dead metres away on the same beach.
Meanwhile, WA authorities are testing a wild cormorant found in Perth and a giant petrel found in Geraldton, 400 kilometres north of Perth.
The sightings came just days after confirmation of Australia’s first H5 bird flu detection in two subantarctic migratory birds on a beach in Esperance, Western Australia.
Esperance and Fowlers Bay are on the coastline that makes up the Great Australian Bight, but on different sides of the SA/WA border.
WA Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis said there was no confirmed evidence the virus had spread.
Jackie Jarvis says samples from an additional two birds have been collected for testing. (ABC News)
“I’m advised it’s not unusual for these types of migratory birds to be found along the West Australian coast, particularly this time of year when weather events can blow them off course,” she said.
“And so it is not a concern that these birds were found. I guess because of the species, the migratory nature of these birds, that’s why it was determined that they should be tested.”
The total number of samples sent for testing is now 11, from 94 reports of dead or unwell birds made to WA’s hotline over the past three days.
Fowlers Bay is a remote coastal fishing village on the western edge of South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula. (Supplied)
Speaking with Narelle Graham on ABC Radio’s SA Regional Drive show this afternoon, South Australia’s Primary Industries Minister Claire Scriven indicated it could be several days before results from the bird samples were available.
“In terms of the turnaround times, it sort of depends on the outcomes,” she said.
“Here in South Australia, the samples are sent initially to Gribbles Vet Lab at Glenside and they can turn around that first test.
“If that test indicates it may be bird flu, it’s then sent to the Australian Centre for Disease Prevention in Geelong, [which is] the national protocol,” she said.
“We’re obviously working with our national counterparts and the other states as well to make sure we’re all abiding by the same protocols.
“We hope this doesn’t get to South Australia, but we know, of course, that it may.”
Stepping up monitoring
The South Australian government has increased its monitoring of the state’s west coast, particularly between Ceduna and WA.
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas today said the advent of the H5 strain of bird flu in Australia had triggered a suite of measures of joint state and Commonwealth monitoring.
“As a result of this detection [in Australia] there are a range of funding arrangements that kick in,” he said.
That includes a combined $8.1 million into the state’s Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) for monitoring and response readiness.
Mr Malinauskas said the proximity of the confirmed cases in Esperance was of note to authorities.
“We don’t know if those birds [carrying the H5 variant] transmitted it to other birds that might migrate to South Australia,”
he said.
“These are live questions that we just don’t have the answer to.”
The premier said additional funding would be unlocked if the virus was detected in the state.
“This is different to [the] algal bloom. That hadn’t occurred in the history of the country,” he said.
“This is something we’ve known is a risk and we’ve been able to account and plan for.”
Sighting the dead birds
Fowlers Bay resident Rod Keogh spotted the two dead birds on Fowlers Bay Beach yesterday morning.
Mr Keogh reported the sighting to PIRSA, and within hours rangers had arrived and taken the bird samples for analysis.
Results will be determined in coming days.
Rod Keogh says it was confronting to find the dead birds on the beach. (ABC Eyre Peninsula: Jodie Hamilton)
BirdLife Australia senior adviser Sean Dooley said it was not unknown for seabirds to wash ashore after being killed in storms at this time of year.
Concern for sea lion population
Mr Keogh, who runs a marine tourism operation in the remote coastal town, feared the deadly bird flu would impact important sea lion populations on Nuyts Reef, near the town.
“Nuyts Reef is one of the largest Australian sea lion populations in the country,” he said.
Overseas outbreaks of the H5 bird flu variant have resulted in 30,000 sea lions being killed in South America.
Sea lions are also at risk from bird flu. (Supplied: Department of Environment and Water)
South Australia is home to 85 per cent of all global Australian sea lion populations.
“It is absolutely critical that we maintain vigilance if we’re seeing something on the beaches that is out of the ordinary, especially pelagic birds,” Mr Keogh said.
A PIRSA spokesperson confirmed there were still no confirmed cases of H5 bird flu in South Australia and that it had bolstered surveillance operations.
“The state government will examine any report of sick or dead birds and other wildlife … and samples are collected for further testing and analysis when appropriate,” they said in statement.
“Surveillance is being undertaken in many areas including the west and far west coasts, Coorong, Fleurieu, Kangaroo Island, Limestone Coast, Far North and offshore islands.
“We are also surveying conservation and national park sites including Seal Bay Conservation Park, Coorong National Park, Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary and the Adelaide International Dolphin Sanctuary.
“We will notify the public in the event of a positive detection of H5 bird flu in SA.”
