First case of bird flu confirmed in New Zealand
New Zealand has recorded its first confirmed case of the H5N1 bird flu strain after an infected seabird was found on a Wellington beach.
Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard said a single ocean-going seabird, a brown skua, found on Petone beach in Wellington returned a confirmed positive test for H5 bird flu today.
H5N1 has been spreading globally, causing large die-offs among wild birds, seals and sea lions, as well as significant losses in farmed poultry.
New Zealanders are being urged not to handle sick or dead birds though there has not been any detection in poultry.
“This is a coastal detection in an individual ocean-going seabird and there is no evidence of any mass mortality in wildlife or transmission between wild birds in New Zealand,” Hoggard said.
“The situation is being closely monitored, but at this stage there is no evidence of any illness beyond this seabird. We’ve had people out on Petone beach checking and found no other issues. We will continue to monitor the beach and surrounding areas.”
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) said H5 bird flu posed a “low” risk to the public because it “rarely affects humans” unless there is direct, close and prolonged contact with large numbers of sick birds.
Eggs and poultry remained safe to eat, it said.
Hoggard said Australia had recently recorded isolated detections of H5 bird flu in coastal birds without widespread outbreaks, and New Zealand could see a similar pattern.
MPI said it would continue its “wider surveillance” programme and work closely with industry, veterinarians and wildlife carers.
“We are continuing to act early and prepare carefully, while asking the community to remain watchful.”
MPI, the Department of Conservation (DoC), the Ministry of Health and Health New Zealand have been preparing for the arrival of H5 bird flu by developing response plans with industry and local councils.
Anyone who finds three or more sick or dead wild birds together is asked to report them to MPI on 0800 80 99 66.
People are advised not to handle or move the birds, and to provide photographs and as much location information as possible when making a report.
Last month, DoC announced it would vaccinate some of New Zealand’s most threatened native birds to protect them from bird flu.
About 300 core breeding birds across kākāpō, takahē, tchūriwat’/tūturuatu/shore plovers, kakī/black stilts and kākāriki karaka/orange-fronted parakeets species were targeted for the start of the vaccination drive.
Most were in captivity, while kākāpō and takahē are managed on offshore islands.
DoC senior science adviser and wildlife veterinarian Dr Kate McInnes said the birds were chosen because they have very small populations and depend on intensive conservation efforts for their survival.
“We’re in a unique position to be able to vaccinate some of our most vulnerable birds as a precaution before H5N1 bird flu potentially arrives here,” she said.
“We’ve seen the devastating impacts of this virus on wildlife in other parts of the world, and we want to reduce the risk to our precious native birds where we can.”
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