Australia confirms local transmission of H5N1 avian influenza in wild birds.

The Australian government confirmed on Wednesday (29) the local transmission of the H5N1 avian influenza virus among wild birds, raising concerns about a possible wider spread of the disease in the country after its first detection, recorded in June. According to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins, the virus was identified in great crested terns in the state of South Australia, indicating that the disease is already circulating among native bird populations. "Although there is no evidence of mass mortality at this time, we expect that with this local transmission there will be more detections in Australian wildlife," Collins said during a press conference. According to the minister, there are no records of H5N1 infection in commercial farms or in the Australian poultry industry so far.

This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.