Third suspected positive case of H5N1 bird flu detected in Quindalup area of WA’s South West

A third bird is suspected to have tested positive for the highly infectious H5 strain of bird flu in WA.

WA Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis confirmed the result of preliminary testing of a migratory sea bird found in the Quindalup area of WA’s South West.

Ms Jarvis said the sample had been sent to the CSIRO’s Centre for Disease Preparedness in Victoria for confirmatory testing, with results expected over the next day or two.

“This is an individual migratory bird that is common to the sub-Antarctic region,” she said on Wednesday afternoon.

“Importantly, there have been no reports of large-scale mortalities, and no evidence that the virus has spread to native birds or wildlife.”

Ms Jarvis said a member of the public reported the dead southern giant petrel over the week and that a government biosecurity worker took a sample from the bird on Sunday, which was taken to Perth for testing.

Ms Jarvis said eight negative test results were returned over the weekend on birds that were reported to the emergency animal disease hotline.

Those birds were located in the Perth metropolitan area, the Peel, South West and Esperance regions.

Out of 79 new reports to the emergency animal disease hotline on Tuesday, six have been prioritised for investigation and testing for the H5 bird flu virus.

“We appreciate the community’s efforts and encourage people to continue to report observations,” Ms Jarvis said.

“This increased reporting is an important part of surveillance at this stage.”

There have been 192 reports to the hotline since the first suspected bird flu detection was announced on Friday.

“Reports to the emergency animal disease hotline are routinely investigated, and there is no suggestion of any additional reports will be H5 bird flu,” she said.