Tasmania confirms first case of deadly bird flu strain H5N1

Tasmania has confirmed its first case of the highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu strain, a virus that has affected wildlife across five other Australian states. The confirmation came after testing overnight on a brown skua found deceased at Burgess Cove, on the state's north-west coast.

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It was inevitable that the virus would arrive in the state.

Staff from the Parks and Wildlife Service alerted the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE) after discovering the bird carcass during active surveillance of coastal areas. Department secretary Jason Jacobi stated that the virus's arrival in Tasmania was "inevitable," noting that infected brown skuas had previously been found in other Australian states.

Jacobi confirmed, "It's not unexpected that we would find a confirmed brown skua." The initial detection of the H5 bird flu strain in Australia also involved a brown skua, found in Western Australia.

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It's not unexpected that we would find a confirmed brown skua.

Minister for Primary Industries and Water Gavin Pearce assured the public that Tasmania is "prepared to respond" and has activated its bird flu response plan. "We've worked with the commercial poultry sector to assist them in development of biosecurity preparedness plans and ensuring that they are ready to activate those plans," Mr Pearce said.

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Tasmania was 'prepared to respond' and would enact its bird flu response plan.

Brown skuas are large predatory seabirds native to Tasmania. They typically breed on Antarctic and sub-Antarctic islands. The confirmation of H5N1 in the state marks a new stage in the ongoing spread of the virus across Australia.

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We've worked with the commercial poultry sector to assist them in development of biosecurity preparedness plans and ensuring that they are ready to activate those plans.