Bird Flu Terror Hits Australian Shores: Deadly H5 Strain Suspected on Remote Sub-Antarctic Island of Heard Island
- Wildlife scientists on board Australia’s icebreaker RSV Nuyina suspect deadly H5 bird flu has reached Heard Island, sparking fears of a catastrophic outbreak.
- The island, located in the Southern Ocean, has witnessed unusual levels of mortality in elephant seals, with penguins and other bird species remaining unaffected.
- Australia remains the only continent free from the highly contagious strain of H5 bird flu, but experts warn that the virus could soon spread to the mainland, putting the poultry and dairy industries at risk.
Scientists on board the RSV Nuyina have made a disturbing discovery on the remote sub-Antarctic island of Heard Island, sparking fears of a deadly bird flu outbreak that could have catastrophic consequences for Australia.
The federal environment and agriculture departments have confirmed that the team has observed signs consistent with H5 avian influenza in wildlife during a management voyage to the island, which is located approximately 4,000 kilometres southwest of Western Australia.
Wildlife ecologist Dr Julie McInnes revealed that initial drone and ground surveys of the island did not indicate any unusual levels of mortality. However, when the scientists ventured to the south-east of the island, they were met with a devastating sight: dead elephant seals, including pups, littered the landscape.
“We undertook widespread aerial surveys with concurrent ground counts in the region, and samples were also obtained from a number of deceased animals,” Dr McInnes explained. “The majority of mortalities were detected in elephant seal pups and in a small number of adults.”
The suspected arrival of bird flu on Heard Island has sent shockwaves through the scientific community, with World Health Organisation (WHO) avian flu researcher Michelle Wille warning that the virus could soon spread to the Australian mainland.
“We are really worried that the virus could, in its next jump, come to the Australian mainland,” Dr Wille said. “It could affect our wild birds, our poultry industry as well as dairy cattle. This virus does also cause human infections.”
Although the risk to the general population is expected to be low, Dr Wille cited the example of 70 human cases having been recorded in the US since last year, with one death reported. Globally, people infected by the virus are typically those exposed to infected animals through the poultry or dairy industries.
The Australian government has invested more than $100 million into strengthening the country’s capacity to deal with the potential arrival of bird flu, but experts warn that the risk of the virus spreading to the mainland is now higher than ever.
“I would say that there is a risk from southward migratory birds, which are arriving right now, as well as via the sub-Antarctic route,” Dr Wille said.
As the scientific community waits with bated breath for the confirmatory test results, one thing is clear: the discovery of bird flu on Heard Island is a warning sign that Australia cannot ignore.