Bird flu: Third H5 case found in northern giant petrel at Cape Palliser
A third case of H5 bird flu has been confirmed in a northern giant petrel found dead in the Wairarapa region of New Zealand. Biosecurity officials emphasize that the risk to human health remains low and are continuing surveillance to protect the local poultry industry.
Why it matters
Monitoring avian influenza in wild populations is critical for preventing potential outbreaks in commercial poultry and assessing zoonotic risks.
A third bird flu case has been confirmed in the Wellington region.
Biosecurity New Zealand revealed testing found H5 bird flu in a single northern giant petrel, which was found dead on a Cape Palliser beach in the Wairarapa.
The Ministry for Primary Industries’ chief veterinary officer, Dr Mary van Ande,l said the detection was not a surprise because ocean-going birds like the giant petrel can arrive on the country’s coastlines, especially in poor weather.
“We expect we will continue to find more cases in wild birds,” van Andel said.
“There were no signs of other issues at the site, but we will carry out precautionary checks along the remote coastline tomorrow.
“The risk to human health remains low and chicken and eggs are safe to eat.”
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