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New Zealand Detects First H5N1 Bird Flu Case in Brown Skua Seabird
New Zealand recorded its first H5N1 bird flu case after a brown skua seabird found near Wellington tested positive. Officials reported no evidence of mass mortality or poultry infections. Health authorities began vaccinating 300 breeding birds from five endangered species.
Jul 15, 2:44 AM·1m read2 sources
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New Zealand recorded its first case of H5N1 bird flu after a brown skua seabird found on a beach near Wellington tested positive. Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard announced the detection on Wednesday. The case follows the virus's appearance last month in Australia, the last continent to report it.
Hoggard stated there is no evidence of mass mortality in wildlife or transmission between wild birds. No detections have occurred in poultry. New Zealand has prepared for the virus by working with the poultry industry on biosecurity and resilience plans.
Health officials started a vaccination program for 300 core breeding birds from five of the country's most endangered species, including flightless takahe and kakapo. Brett Gartrell, a professor of wildlife health at Massey University, told Reuters the birds have never encountered a pathogen like this. He said rapid spread could leave the protected group without full immunity.
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