NSW Records Suspected H5 Bird Flu Case as Virus Reaches East Coast

New South Wales is on alert after a giant petrel found near Hawks Nest tested positive for H5 influenza, marking the state's first suspected case of the deadly bird flu. CSIRO testing is underway to confirm if it is the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain, which has devastated wildlife globally. This potential detection on the east coast follows confirmed cases in Western and South Australia, all involving migratory sub-antarctic birds. NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty stated that the disease has not yet been found in poultry flocks or other birds in the state. "This latest development is incredibly concerning for both agriculture and for wildlife," Moriarty said. "The impact of H5 worldwide on wild birds and poultry has been devastating. But NSW and the rest of the country have been preparing for this moment for many years." The NSW government has implemented surveillance measures and established a state coordination center to manage operations, working closely with federal and other state authorities to prepare for the virus's arrival.

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This latest development is incredibly concerning for both agriculture and for wildlife.