The detection of H5 bird flu in a long-nosed fur seal is the first in a mammal in Australia and provides an early indication of the challenges H5 bird flu could present for Australian wildlife.
Testing by CSIRO's Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness confirmed H5 bird flu in a long-nosed fur seal at Beachport on South Australia's Limestone Coast. The detection announcement on 23 August followed recent evidence of local transmission between wild birds, and mass mortality events in wild birds in SA.
Wildlife Health Australia Chief Operating Officer Dr Tiggy Grillo said the detection reflects global patterns seen in the spread of the disease.
“While this is Australia's first mammal detection, it is sadly not unexpected,” Dr Grillo said.
“In addition to affecting over 600 bird species around the world, H5 bird flu has affected more than 100 mammal species globally, particularly predators, scavengers and marine mammals that interact closely with seabirds,” Dr Grillo said.
“There is still uncertainty about exactly how Australia's unique wildlife will be affected, but overseas experience shows we need to be prepared for impacts across multiple species.”
In Australia, wildlife considered most at risk include seabirds, shorebirds, birds of prey, scavenging mammals and marine mammals that congregate around seabird colonies. Australian species such as quolls, Tasmanian devils, seals and sea lions may be vulnerable if exposed to the virus. For more information on specific species, see the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water’s analysis which provides a national risk score for H5 bird flu for Australia’s native birds and mammals.
Since emerging globally in its current form in 2020, H5 bird flu has spread across Europe, the Americas, Africa Antarctica. Millions of wild animals have died worldwide as a result of the disease, including mass mortality events in seabirds, sea lions, seals and elephant seals.
Wildlife Health Australia continues to play a key role in tracking the spread and impacts of H5 bird flu through national surveillance systems, wildlife health intelligence and expert advice to government and response partners. WHA also leads the National Avian Influenza Wild Bird Surveillance Program, which helps build the national picture of disease activity in wildlife.
WHA is reminding Australians to Avoid. Record. Report. Anyone who encounters sick or dead birds or other wildlife should avoid contact and report it to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
For more information on recent H5 bird flu events, visit birdflu.gov.au. For information on H5 bird flu and wildlife, including FAQs, fact sheets and toolkits, visit WHA’s H5 bird flu resource centre.