Image: Port MacDonnell
H5 bird flu has now been reported at several additional South Australian coastal locations, including Normanville, Port MacDonnell, Carpenter Rocks, Cape Jaffa, Southend, Pelican Point, Flinders Chase and Penneshaw.
The latest update also shows the virus has been detected in more seabird species, with silver gulls now among the confirmed cases and Pacific gulls under investigation.
Since Glam Adelaide’s previous update on August 5, South Australia’s confirmed H5 bird flu total has risen from 81 to 119, while the number of suspected cases awaiting confirmation has increased from 40 to 42.
Authorities have confirmed positive results in 32 wild seabirds since the August 6 update, including 25 greater crested terns across the Limestone Coast.
These include 12 birds at Port MacDonnell, 10 at Beachport and one each at Robe, Carpenter Rocks and Cape Jaffa.
Three silver gulls at Southend have also tested positive, alongside three greater crested terns at Seal Bay on Kangaroo Island and one greater crested tern at Port Elliot on the Fleurieu Peninsula.
Port Elliot, Seal Bay and Beachport were already named in the August 5 update after 12 greater crested terns returned suspected results across the three locations.
Those previously suspected cases have now returned positive test results, although the latest Beachport confirmed total is higher than the eight suspected birds reported earlier this week.
Another 17 suspected cases have been recorded since the August 6 update, with samples sent to the CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness in Geelong for confirmatory testing.
The latest suspected detections include greater crested terns at Normanville and Penneshaw, along with birds at Robe, Beachport, Southend, Pelican Point and Carpenter Rocks.
A silver gull at Port Elliot and another at Robe are also under investigation, along with a Pacific gull at Flinders Chase on Kangaroo Island.
The State Government has also corrected the recorded location of one confirmed greater crested tern previously attributed to Port Vincent. Following a review of testing data, the bird’s location has been amended to Beachport.
A total of 1,420 tests have now been conducted since January 1, while the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline has received 3,962 reports since June 20.
There continue to be no confirmed H5 bird flu detections in poultry or other livestock in South Australia, and authorities maintain that the risk to human health remains low.
South Australians are being asked not to touch or approach sick or dead birds and other wildlife. People should record the location and details of any affected animals before reporting them to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
