Dead bird tests negative

Authorities have confirmed a bird found dead at Narrabeen Beach tested negative for bird flu.

Concerns were raised on Saturday afternoon (04 July) when a seabird was found dead on the sand in front of the South Narrabeen Surf Life Saving Club at Narrabeen Beach.

Surf Life Saving NSW notified authorities and established a ten metre exclusion zone around the dead bird, a Little Black Cormorant. It was then taken for testing by the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).

Authorities have been on high alert nationwide since the deadly H5N1 variant of the avian influenza was first detected last month on Australian shores in migratory seabirds.

The Little Black Cormorant found dead at Narrabeen Beach was not one of the large migratory birds which have so far tested positive, but could be a leading indicator of transmission to local bird populations.

The cormorant was tested at the Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute (EMAI) at Menangle in NSW as part of the ongoing surveillance and analysis underway in response to H5N1.

Yesterday (Tuesday, 07 July), the DPIRD officially confirmed the cormorant found at Narrabeen Beach has tested negative for H5 bird flu.

DPIRD NSW Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Jo Coombe said it is not normal procedure to report negative results, as the Department routinely performs these exclusions. However, due to the significant interest in this particular case, the DPIRD is reporting that it has tested negative.

Jo Coombe

“Since the response was stood up on 19 June, many investigations have been conducted relating to sick or dead birds and have all come back negative for H5, apart from the one confirmed Giant Petrel near Hawks Nest on the weekend.

“There are no detections in poultry or evidence of spread to local wildlife or large-scale deaths in any animals.

“The risk to human health remains low.

“I would like to remind members of the community if unusual deaths or illness in wild birds are observed please AVOID contact, RECORD by taking photos or video and REPORT immediately to the Emergency Animal Disease (EAD) Hotline on 1800 675 888.

“Australia remains well prepared to respond quickly to H5 bird flu,” said Dr Coombe.

One Northern Beaches resident was relieved to learn of the negative result, after finding out the dead cormorant was being tested for bird flu after her dog had approached it on the beach before the exclusion zone was established. To the extent possible, all domestic pets should be kept away from any sick, injured or dead birds.

Until the recent confirmations of H5N1 in migratory birds, Australia had avoided the global bird flu pandemic. The disease has caused significant mortality in wild bird populations and also devastated agricultural populations, particularly on poultry farms.

Images: Luke Gavahan