South Australia reports surge in H5N1 bird flu cases

Authorities in South Australia (SA) have stated that the H5N1 bird flu is most likely spreading locally, after reporting 11 new suspected cases of infection with the deadly virus strain.

South Australia’s Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Clare Scriven, told reporters on Wednesday morning local time that all of the new cases were detected in crested terns, with seven cases found in south-eastern South Australia and four others on Kangaroo Island, approximately 120 km off the coast of Adelaide.

If confirmed, the new cases would bring the total in South Australia to 25 and the national tally to 38 since the strain was first detected on the Australian mainland in June.

Scriven said it was highly likely that the new cases reflected local transmission of the virus strain, which has caused the deaths of millions of poultry and infected more than 100 mammal species.

“This situation is concerning, but it is not unexpected. We have always known that when bird flu eventually entered Australia, the virus would spread,” Scriven said.

“What we have witnessed in various parts of the world shows that we cannot stop the spread of H5 bird flu, and, of course, local transmission has occurred on every other continent in the world,” she said.

The statement came after South Australia reported seven new cases in crested terns found in the south-east of the state on Monday (27 July).

Despite the surge in cases, Scriven said that to date the H5N1 strain has not been detected in commercial poultry anywhere in Australia.

She said that beach tours at Seal Bay on Kangaroo Island would be temporarily suspended to help protect the local sea lion population.