Bird flu is spreading locally and Australia faces more wildlife deaths. How bad could it get?
Australian authorities have confirmed the first instances of local transmission of the H5N1 bird flu virus among wildlife. Officials are preparing for increased wildlife mortality as the virus spreads across the continent.
Why it matters
The local transmission of a highly virulent strain poses significant risks to biodiversity and potential threats to agricultural biosecurity.
Conservationists fear for the sea lion population at South Australia’s Kangaroo Island, after bird flu was detected there./iStockphoto Conservationists fear for the sea lion population at South Australia’s Kangaroo Island, after bird flu was detected there./iStockphoto Bird flu Bird flu is spreading locally and Australia faces more wildlife deaths. How bad could it get? Authorities say local transmission of H5 bird flu virus among South Australian birds signals ‘shift in the situation’
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Prefer the Guardian on Google Australia has entered a new phase in dealing with the incursion of deadly H5N1 bird flu , with authorities confirming on Wednesday that local transmission of the highly virulent strain had taken place.
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