Image: PIRSA
South Australians now have a new one-stop destination for the latest bird flu updates, with the State Government launching a dedicated website as it continues to ramp up surveillance and preparedness efforts in response to H5 bird flu.
The new website, birdflu.sa.gov.au, brings together the latest information, advice and resources from SA Health, the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) and the Department for Environment and Water (DEW), providing a central source of information for primary producers, veterinarians, wildlife carers and the wider community.
The launch comes as the Malinauskas Government expands one of the state’s largest coastal aerial wildlife surveillance operations in decades, with flights this week extending to the River Murray between Renmark and Murray Bridge.
Over the past week, aerial surveys have covered more than 12,000 kilometres across South Australia’s coastline, including the West Coast, Eyre Peninsula, Kangaroo Island and offshore islands, the Lower Fleurieu Peninsula, Lower Lakes, the Coorong and the Limestone Coast to the Victorian border.
On the ground, DEW teams are continuing patrols of beaches, wetlands and other high-risk locations, including coastal areas not covered by aerial surveillance such as the Yorke Peninsula.
Hundreds of birds and other wildlife, including sea lions, have already been tested as part of the state’s monitoring program. As of Monday, July 20th, five positive H5 bird flu detections have been confirmed in South Australia.
Importantly, there have been no detections of H5 bird flu in poultry and no evidence of mass wildlife deaths anywhere in Australia.
Premier Peter Malinauskas said, “My Government is pulling out all the stops when it comes to preparing for, and responding to, potential further H5 bird flu detections in South Australia.
“We have rolled out a new central hub with the latest information and guidance to help every possible stakeholder stay up-to-date and equipped with the best available advice.”
Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Clare Scriven added, “Through our comprehensive wildlife surveillance programs, continuing engagement with industry and other stakeholders, and the vigilance of South Australians across our state, everyone is working together to deliver the strongest possible biosecurity response to the H5 bird flu threat.”
Alongside surveillance efforts, the Government is delivering online training for veterinarians and wildlife carers to strengthen biosecurity knowledge, disease recognition and reporting procedures. Industry is also working with the Government on potential future management measures, including housing orders for poultry if required.
Community forums are continuing across the state, giving residents the opportunity to hear directly from government representatives and biosecurity experts. Upcoming sessions will be held in Yorketown on July, 22nd Glenelg on July 27th and Dublin on August 6th, with further events to be announced.
Since the first H5 bird flu detection in Australia, more than 2,200 reports have been made to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline, with authorities encouraging South Australians to remain vigilant and continue reporting sick or dead birds and wildlife.
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