Second bird flu case confirmed in Hunter

A second case of the deadly bird flu virus has been confirmed in a migratory seabird on the Hunter coast.

Testing at CSIRO's Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness has confirmed a further positive detection of H5 high pathogenicity avian influenza (bird flu) in a giant petrel, found at Bennetts Beach at Hawks Nest.

The Giant Petrel was found following a report made by a member of the public.

The case is the second confirmed from the Port Stephens coastal town after a giant petrel found deceased on the beach was confirmed to be carrying the virus earlier this month.

Surveillance operations are continuing across the state, and the Emergency Animal Disease hotline covering call-ins on potential birds spotted by the public or non-government organisations has been operating since June.

Australia's chief veterinary officer Dr Beth Cookson said there have now been 15 confirmed or presumed positive detections of H5 bird flu in Australia.

"All of these have been individual wild seabirds found in coastal locations, Dr Cookson said.

"All but one have been wild migratory seabirds.

"This positive case is not unexpected, given the location and it shows that our enhanced surveillance is working.

"There remains no evidence of any mass mortality events and there are no detections in poultry or in our agricultural production system.

"We are continuing to work closely with Australian and State and Territory governments plus industry, agriculture and wildlife organisations.

"The risk to human health remains low.

"Our surveillance operations with Local Land Services and National Parks and Wildlife Service field officers are underway and use innovative spatial mapping tools, decision-support systems and response databases to enable rapid and targeted action."

Acting Minister for Agriculture Yasmin Catley said this was the second wild migratory bird to test positive however it is important to note that to date, H5 has not been detected in native birds or commercial poultry flocks in NSW.

"The detection of this bird demonstrates the Government's increased and targeted surveillance and monitoring program is working as intended," she said

"The NSW Government has been preparing for a situation like this, and we remain well equipped to manage further impacts.

"Our State Coordination Centre has been operating since June and we are continuing to work closely with the Commonwealth Government.

"If you encounter a suspected sick bird, avoid contact and report it immediately to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline."

This month's earlier detection launched a heavy response from authorities to the Hunter to monitor local sea bird populations for signs of further spread of the virus.

Surveillance on land and in the sky via drone has been ramped up in a large-scale response to control the event.

The efforts have continued since the initial detection.

Roughly 500 additional staff have converged on the region to assist the effort as part of the government's response.

Farmers have been advised to house poultry and take extra biosecurity precautions, and the community has been told to be vigilant for signs of unusual wild bird deaths or sickness as the state and national response ramps up.

Officials have urged the public not to panic and offered reassurances that the state's agricultural sector was safe, supplies were unaffected, and the risk to humans was low.

While the virus could be deadly for animals, the risk to humans is generally considered low in terms of transmission and health impact according to the state's top vet, Jo Coombe.

Dr Coombe described the symptoms of the virus in humans as being similar to a common cold, adding there had been no recorded cases of human-to-human transmission.

If you notice sick or dead birds or other animals, you should not touch them or get too close. Record your location and report it to the 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease (EAD) Hotline on 1800 675 888.