Auckland (The NZ Today)
A second bird found in the Wairarapa has tested positive for H5 bird flu, just days after New Zealand confirmed its first case of the virus in a seabird found at Petone Beach near Wellington.
Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard said the latest detection was disappointing, but not unexpected, after officials warned more cases could appear along New Zealand’s coastline.
The first confirmed case was detected in a brown skua, an ocean-going seabird found by a member of the public at Petone Beach. Officials confirmed it was the H5N1 avian influenza clade 2.3.4.4b strain, which has been spreading internationally and had not previously been confirmed in New Zealand.
Hoggard has said New Zealand is prepared to respond, with agencies working alongside industry, councils, veterinarians and wildlife groups to manage the risk to poultry, native wildlife and communities. The Government has also said eggs and poultry remain safe to eat, and there are currently no detections in poultry.
The new case adds to concern that the virus may now continue appearing in wild birds around the country. After the first detection, Hoggard said more birds would likely be found on shorelines as surveillance said more birds would likely be found on shore increased.
The H5N1 strain has already been circulating globally and has recently been confirmed in Australia, where cases have been reported in wild seabirds. Reuters reported that New Zealand had been among the last places to detect the strain, after it spread some mammals overseas.
New Zealand’s Department of Conservation had already begun vaccinating core breeding populations of some of the country’s most endangered birds, including kākāpō, takahē, shore plover, black stilt and orange-fronted parakeet, as a precautcal case was confirmed.
Experts have warned the virus could pose a serious threat to native wildlife, especially species that are already endangered or have small breeding populations.
Officials are urging the public not to touch sick or dead birds. People who see birds behaving strangely, or find several sick or dead birds together, should take a photo if it is safe, note the location and report it.
Anyone who finds three or more sick or dead wild birds in one place should call the exotic pest and disease hotline on 0800 80 99 66.
Poultry farmers and backyard chicken owners are also being advised to contact a vet if they have concerns about illness in their birds.
