Wodonga Urban Landcare Network, in support of BirdLife Australia and the Australian government, are asking members to be on the lookout for signs of Avian Influenza.
Avian Influenza, or bird flu, is an infectious disease of birds caused by strains of Influenza A virus. It affects poultry and wild birds and can be spread to mammals including humans. The H5N1 strain is a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) being closely monitored by Australian authorities due to the potential risk of spread to Australia.
Large-scale outbreaks of the H5N1 strain of bird flu in the past two years have killed millions of wild birds and tens of thousands of mammals around the world. H5N1 bird flu has spread to all continents apart from Australia and experts predict it could arrive here with the spring migration of shorebirds and seabirds from the Northern Hemisphere.
BirdLife Australia has developed a website and information sheet that tells you about the symptoms of bird flu in birds, what you need to do if you find a sick or dying bird, and to report any suspected case to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline (1800 675 888).
The website also has an informative webinar on how Australia is preparing for bird flu impacts on Australian wildlife and a FAQ section.
Although bird flu mainly affects waterbirds and shorebirds, we should all be alert for any signs in the wild bird or mammal population to ensure early detection.
