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Authorities in New Zealand confirmed its first H5N1 bird flu case after a migratory brown skua seabird found on a beach near the capital, Wellington was tested positive on July 15. Biosecurity Minister, Andrew Hoggard said the finding represents the country’s first confirmed case of the highly pathogenic avian influenza strain.
They identified the infected bird with H5N1 as a brown skua, a migratory seabird species that travel far across the Southern Ocean region. This virus was confirmed weeks after Australia detected a H5 virus, making New Zealand the recent country to also confirmed same virus in their region.
First H5N1 bird flu case
According to Hoggard he said that currently there is no death or transmission between wild birds in New Zealand. He also stated that there has been no detection of the virus in poultry , and that the case is being closely monitored.
The country has been preparing for the arrival of the H5N1, working with the poultry industry on biosecurity. HealthCare sector have started giving vaccinations to 300 core breeding birds from five of the country’s most endangered species. As the vaccination program aim to protect the population of other native birds from the virus.
Since 2021 , the virus has spread across the country, killing millions of animals and disrupting farms. The necessary authorities assured that H5N1 bird flu case is being closely monitored and all efforts are being put in places to find out whether additional cases has emerge among the wild birds.
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