Western Australia taking part in national and subnational measures to monitor bird flu

The Western Australian government is coordinating with national authorities to monitor the H5 bird flu outbreak following confirmed local transmission in wildlife. Officials have advised the public to avoid contact with sick animals and report sightings to a dedicated hotline.
Why it matters
Proactive monitoring is essential to prevent the potential spillover of avian influenza into the poultry industry and human populations.
The government continues to monitor the situation. Photo: Diego Cervo.
The Western Australian Labor Government has taken part in a national meeting of Federal, Territory and State environment and agriculture ministers, dealing with the ongoing H5 bird flu situation.
Evidence of local transmission has been identified among Australian Greater Crested Terns in South Australia. After this development, the Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Diseases confirmed that eradication of the flu in wildlife is not technically possible.
Keeping in mind the potential of more spreading, nationally agreed-upon arrangements have been put in place to support continuing response efforts, focused primarily on minimising wildlife impacts as well as impacts to human health and agricultural industry.
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