Sydney Confirms First H5N1 Bird Flu Case In Northern Beaches

Authorities have confirmed Sydney’s first case of the highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu strain.

New South Wales Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said testing identified H5N1 in a greater crested tern. The bird was found in Sydney’s Northern Beaches in late August.

The detection marks Sydney’s first confirmed H5N1 case since the virus reached mainland Australia in June.

Moriarty urged residents with pet birds or chickens to avoid contact with wild birds. She advised dog owners to prevent their pets from chasing wild birds or eating carcasses.

Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins warned that this could become the first of several cases. She further said the region must prepare for the potentially devastating effects of the highly pathogenic strain.

The virus has killed millions of birds worldwide and continues to threaten wildlife and poultry populations.

Federal government data showed 468 confirmed H5N1 events across Australia as of Wednesday.

New South Wales accounted for 20 of those detections, Xinhua news agency reported.

The NSW government confirmed that authorities have found no cases in commercial poultry flocks, captive birds or livestock within the state.

The World Health Organisation describes H5N1 as an influenza virus that causes highly infectious respiratory disease in birds. The virus has, however, infected mammals, including humans.

Human infections can range from mild to severe and may prove fatal. Reported symptoms mainly involve the respiratory system, although conjunctivitis and other non-respiratory symptoms can occur.

Some people exposed to infected animals or contaminated environments have tested positive without showing symptoms.

The goose/Guangdong lineage of H5N1 first emerged in 1996 and has caused repeated bird outbreaks.

Since 2020, a variant has triggered unprecedented deaths among wild birds and poultry worldwide.

The virus first spread across Africa, Asia and Europe before reaching North America in 2021. It reached Central and South America in 2022.

Since 2022, authorities have increasingly detected deadly influenza A(H5), including H5N1, infections among mammals.

Affected species include seals, sea lions, foxes, bears, otters, raccoons, cats, dogs, cows, goats and other wild and domestic animals.

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