One of Australia's rarest birds gets vaccinated as bird flu spreads

By Sandy Powell

Topic:Avian Influenza

Vaccinations began on Tuesday for the critically endangered orange-bellied parrot. (Supplied)

In short:

The deadly H5 bird flu has spread statewide in Tasmania, with new detections in Marrawah, Triabunna and Acton Park.

Vaccination efforts to protect captive orange-bellied parrots, which are critically endangered, are officially underway.

What's next?

The state government says about 350 birds are expected to be vaccinated in the coming months.

A vaccination program protecting captive orange-bellied parrots from bird flu has begun in Tasmania, as the first cases of the virus are recorded near the state's capital.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania said the virus was detected in a tern at Acton Park, an outer Hobart suburb, and in a forest raven at Triabunna on the east coast, which was the first case in that species.

The deadly H5 avian disease was also detected in a tern at Marrawah in the state's north-west, taking the total number of cases detected in Tasmania to 54 since it was first detected last month.

Incident controller Wes Ford said the department would now stop reporting individual cases, instead focusing on where the virus was being detected.

Tasmanians urged to continue reporting

Mr Ford said the change to its reporting procedures "better reflects the situation".

"Routine testing in areas where the virus is known to be present can detect more birds with H5 bird flu," he said.

Which of Tasmania's unique animal species is most at risk from H5 bird flu, and what is being done to protect them?

Mr Ford called on Tasmanians to continue reporting sick and dead birds they see to the department, which they said had been crucial in detecting the spread of the virus so far.

"Many of our positive detections have been identified because members of the public have reported sick or dead birds," he said.

"Those reports help inform our surveillance activities and will allow us to better monitor how the disease is moving across Tasmania over time."

Tasmania's first case of the H5N1 bird flu was found in a brown skua. (Steve B, Brown Skua, CC0 1.0 DEED)

Mr Ford said there had been no mass mortality events in the state so far.

No detections in the state's poultry industry have been reported either, and chicken and eggs remained safe to eat.

Virus 'absolutely threatens' orange-bellied parrot

Hundreds of captive-bred orange-bellied parrots will be vaccinated. (Supplied)

As the new cases were reported, the state government announced the vaccination of hundreds of captive orange-bellied parrots would begin today.

The critically endangered bird, which was recently estimated to have a wild population of fewer than 100, has been identified as a priority species.

The state government says about 350 orange-bellied parrots will be vaccinated over coming months. (Supplied: NRE Tas)

In 2019, the state government opened a captive breeding facility for the parrots at Five Mile Beach, outside of Hobart.

This morning, Environment Minister Guy Barnett, along with federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins, visited the facility to announce the start of the vaccination program.

Guy Barnett says each bird will receive two shots. (Supplied)

The Australian Antarctic Division will launch a mission to extract personnel from Macquarie Island in the Southern Ocean due to the psychological risk posed by a potential outbreak of bird flu at the remote wildlife sanctuary.

Mr Barnett said 350 captive birds would receive two vaccinations each between now and February. Those birds will then be sent to Melaleuca, in the state's remote south-west, to join the wild population.

Ms Collins said the vaccination program was an important part of Australia's biosecurity response to bird flu.

"The fact we've been able to detect the H5 bird flu so early on and that we're able to track it so well across the country shows that our biosecurity system is world class," she said.

Oranged-bellied parrots were identified as a priority species in the fight against bird flu. (Supplied: NRE Tas)

Up to 50 birds will be vaccinated in Tasmania today. They will be closely monitored for adverse impacts, including on their fertility.

"We will use that information and data over the coming months to determine how safe it is for the remaining parrots to be vaccinated," environment department secretary Jason Jacobi said.

Risk to people remains low

Mr Ford reiterated that while the risk of humans contracting bird flu remains low, people were advised to stay clear of sick birds.

Despite his relatively solo lifestyle, Neil the seal may not be isolated from the threat of bird flu.

"People can prevent getting bird flu by staying away from sick or dead birds and other animals, including their feathers, fluids, saliva, faeces [droppings] and other contaminated material," he said.

"Advice provided by the Department of Health is that human infection with H5 bird flu is rare and the current risk of H5 bird flu to people in Tasmania is low."

He urged Tasmanians to stay vigilant and report sick, dying and dead birds on the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

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