in brief
- NSW has reported its first cases of avian influenza among native birds.
- It has become the second state to record such local transmission, although experts warn more are virtually inevitable.
The deadly bird flu virus has spread to native birds in another state, as the national tally continues its steep rise across the country.
Two greater crested terns returned positive for the H5 flu strain in NSW, with one found near Narooma on the state's south coast and the other near Wentworth close to Mildura, officials confirmed on Saturday.
There have now been 215 confirmed or presumed positive detections, although the poultry industry remains clear of the virus so far.
It's the first time that avian influenza has been detected in an Australian native bird in NSW, with the state now recording four cases.
"These positive cases are not unexpected. We have been preparing for a situation like this, and we remain well equipped to respond to manage further impacts," Environment Minister Penny Sharpe said.
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Surveillance in the impacted areas is continuing to ensure early detection of any further cases, the government added.
National tally rises again
Testing at CSIRO's Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness confirmed on Saturday a further 10 detections of bird flu, all from greater crested terns in Victoria's southwest and Melbourne.
There were 28 positive detections in South Australia among wild seabirds, mostly among greater crested terns, with 15 of those on the state's Limestone Coast and 11 on Kangaroo Island, Australia's Chief Veterinary Officer Beth Cookson said.
SA chief vet Skye Fruean said there was no particular reason why the state had so far encountered most of Australia's confirmed cases.
"Unfortunately, we were just unlucky to be the first place where this did spread into our resident birds," she told ABC.
"I expect there will be other spread in other states and territories with time but ... I don't know how quickly that will happen."
Locals concerned for what is to come
Meanwhile in Victoria's southwest, avid birdwatcher Tracey Gray has been preparing alongside dedicated locals for the arrival of H5, abiding by the key advice: avoid, record, report.
Concerns grew this week when two sick birds were discovered on Port Fairy's Griffiths Island, a sanctuary for plants, birds and animals which also has a large breeding colony of short-tailed shearwaters.
While the birds, which included a crested tern and a suspected albatross, are yet to be confirmed to have the virus, the discovery is concerning.
"The (terns) are a local species that move up and down our coast from Portland, Yambuk to Port Fairy. They move, separate and nest together," Ms Gray told the Australian Associated Press news agency.
"We are concerned about them because that local transmission is potentially the largest issue here.
"Our crucial species is our short-tailed shearwaters that nest on Griffiths Island and they will return at the end of September and they breed on land in colonies. That is of real concern for us."
Ms Gray, who is president of volunteer group Friends of Griffiths Island, said the size of the colony might not be able to absorb the impacts of the virus.
"We're really challenged at the moment because we know the vastness of the coast area," Ms Gray added.
During a community meeting in Portland on Wednesday night, local residents and wildlife volunteers voiced concerns about the rapidly unfolding situation.
Potential spread across species
Fears are also rising for Australia's seals after a pup which washed up at Warrnambool on the southwest coast on Wednesday night was identified as a potential case.
Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action Director Wildlife and Landscape Protection Eve Graham on Wednesday said the seal population appeared healthy following recent checks.
She offered a glimpse into the response at the community meeting, revealing that helicopters using thermal imaging cameras were monitoring seal colonies along Victoria's coastline.
The Victorian government on Friday moved to impose ''proactive, precautionary measure'' that will see producers forced to keep poultry temporarily housed in higher-risk areas.
The decision was made after a meeting with industry representatives who voiced support, Victorian Agriculture Minister Michaela Settle told reporters.
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