The NSW Government is responding to eight new events of H5 bird flu after samples were taken from Greater Crested Terns at Randwick, Cronulla, Port Botany, Milton, Berry, Kiama and Forster, and a Myna in Berry.
Surveillance is continuing across the state so any further cases can be detected early.
These new events take NSW to a total of 40 H5 bird flu events. There are 542 reported across Australia.
A national surveillance plan is in operation to monitor for any further detections and facilitate rapid, coordinated response.
Bird flu has not been detected in commercial poultry flocks or captive birds and the risk to human health remains low.
These events are not unexpected, and the NSW Government is well prepared for H5 bird flu.
Most detections have been in various species of terns, and this is likely because they gather in large groups along the NSW coast, making it easier for bird flu to spread between the birds.
The NSW Government is reminding people with backyard poultry and pet birds to:
- maintain clean housing for birds
- provide clean, chlorinated domestic water and keep birds away from natural water sources
- limit wild bird contact and place food and water inside shelters
- quarantine new birds.
Dog and cat owners should also undertake basic biosecurity measures such as:
- keepings dogs on a leash in wildlife areas where birds are found
- keeping cats indoors or in secure enclosures
- reducing contact between pets and wildlife
- washing your hands with soap and water before and after handling birds or other animals.
The NSW Government is continuing to receive many calls and online reports to the Emergency Animal Disease hotline and key stakeholders are being briefed regularly.
If a person sees sick or dead wild birds, domestic birds, marine mammals or other wildlife showing signs of H5 bird flu - AVOID contact, RECORD what you see, REPORT it via the online reporting form
