Northern Giant Petrel on Noosa Beach Tests Negative for H5 Bird Flu as National Cases Reach 13

A northern giant petrel found on Noosa Main Beach in Queensland on July 11 tested negative for H5 bird flu, Biosecurity Queensland said Tuesday. The bird was recovered during routine duties by wildlife carers and taken to Twinnies Pelican and Seabird Rescue for testing as part of ongoing surveillance. Biosecurity Queensland issued the negative result due to significant public interest.

The department has received hundreds of reports to its 24/7 Emergency Animal Disease Hotline. Queensland has recorded no confirmed H5 cases. The first confirmed H5 bird flu case in Australia occurred less than one month ago in a migratory seabird on a remote Western Australia beach.

A greater crested tern found in Robe, South Australia, later tested positive, marking the first known infection in a wild non-migratory mainland bird. Confirmed cases now total 13 across Western Australia, South Australia and New South Wales. Twinnies Pelican and Seabird Rescue hired a builder to expand its quarantine facility, with construction expected to finish within one week.

BirdLife Australia launched a training program in South Australia for volunteers to identify and report birds showing signs of the virus. Giant petrels are uncommon winter visitors in Queensland waters. Seabird watchers have documented a mass northwards movement of sub-Antarctic species along Australia’s east coast in the past month.

People who find sick or dead birds are advised to avoid contact and call the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.