Influx of highly pathogenic strain a case of ‘not if, but when’ and could devastate native wildlife, experts say
The Australian government is ramping up preparations for a highly pathogenic and contagious strain of bird flu potentially reaching Australia via its Antarctic territory and Macquarie Island, warning it could devastate wildlife and be passed to people.
Dr Louise Emmerson, a seabird ecologist with the Antarctic division, said there was a chance the strain could arrive in Australia’s Antarctic territory or on Macquarie Island in the Southern Ocean when migratory species return in spring. H5N1 was confirmed in westernin February. It has also killed an estimated 30,000 sea lions and 17,000 southern elephant seal pups in the Antarctic region.
“It’s had a very big impact on many different species … some populations have been really badly impacted with in excess of 90% mortality,” she said.the highly infectious strain was “coming for us”, and said it could push some bird species towards extinction if it arrived in Australia.
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