New Zealand has confirmed its first case of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza after a brown skua found on Petone Beach in Wellington allegedly tested positive, prompting authorities to urge the public to report groups of sick or dead birds but stressing there is no evidence of wider spread.
Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard said the infected bird was a solitary ocean-going seabird and there was “no evidence of any mass mortality in wildlife or transmission between wild birds in New Zealand”, with no cases detected in poultry.
“The situation is being closely monitored, but at this stage there is no evidence of any illness beyond this seabird,” Hoggard said. He added that inspections of Petone Beach had found no further affected birds and monitoring would continue.
Bureaucrats say the H5N1 avian influenza clade detected is the strain currently circulating globally. While the virus poses a low risk to the general public, people are advised not to touch sick or dead birds, as infection in humans is rare and generally requires prolonged close contact with infected birds. Authorities also emphasised that eggs and poultry meat remain safe to eat.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) will continue wildlife surveillance and work alongside the Department of Conservation, Health New Zealand, industry groups, veterinarians and local councils as part of the country’s preparedness plan. Poultry producers have been reminded to maintain strict on-farm biosecurity measures.
The Department of Conservation has also begun ‘vaccinating’ 300 breeding birds from five critically endangered native species, including kākāpō, takahē and kakī, as a precaution against the virus.
Members of the public are being asked to report three or more sick or dead wild birds found together to MPI’s exotic pest and disease hotline on 0800 80 99 66, while avoiding any direct contact with the birds.
