Australia news live: bird flu detected on Murray-Darling basin ‘should be ringing alarm bells’, expert says
Australia has confirmed 215 cases of H5 bird flu across multiple states, with recent detections in the Murray-Darling basin raising concerns about wildlife impact. Experts warn that the virus could spread rapidly among inland bird colonies during the upcoming breeding season.
Why it matters
The spread of avian influenza poses a significant threat to biodiversity and agricultural biosecurity in Australia.
New South Wales recorded its first cases of H5 bird flu in two local birds on Saturday, including one found near Wentworth on the Murray-Darling Basin.
Jack Gough , chief executive of the Invasive Species Council , said:
double quotation mark That should be ringing alarm bells for governments because it suggests it could soon be spreading among inland bird colonies ahead of spring breeding season.
Birds in the Murray-Darling basin are already in decline due to feral animals, insufficient water to critical wetlands and the loss of habitat - now they have a deadly disease to contend with.
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