Home / Environment / H5N1 Reaches All Australian States: Tasmania Confirms First Case
H5N1 Reaches All Australian States: Tasmania Confirms First Case
13 Aug
Summary
- H5N1 avian influenza detected in Tasmania, all states now affected.
- Migratory brown skua found dead tested positive for H5N1.
- Australia acquires 1,500 vials of H5N1 vaccine for high-risk birds.
The H5N1 avian influenza strain has now been confirmed in all six Australian states, following Tasmania's first reported case. A migratory brown skua found deceased on Tasmania's northwest coast tested positive for the highly pathogenic virus, as confirmed by the state's minister for primary industries and water. This discovery means that H5N1, first detected on the mainland in Western Australia in June, has now reached every Australian state, including the island territory of Tasmania.
Tasmanian authorities are actively collaborating with experts in wildlife, biosecurity, and industry to enhance surveillance and response capabilities for H5N1. The state government assures the public of its preparedness to manage bird flu incidents.
In a broader national effort, the Australian federal government has acquired an initial 1,500 doses of the H5N1 vaccine. These will be administered to birds deemed high-risk within captivity. Tasmania is preparing to commence vaccination of up to 350 critically endangered orange-bellied parrots, pending necessary approvals.
