The alert comes after a migratory seabird in Western Australia was confirmed yesterday to have the same deadly H5N1 strain that has killed millions of chickens, ducks, wild birds, poultry and some mammals globally, since late 2021. Minister for Biosecurity Andrew Hoggard yesterday said New Zealand was well prepared, with work done by Health NZ and other government agencies, as well as industry and local councils. However, he warned Kiwis needed to take steps to be ready, including keeping their distance from sick or dead
wildlife, keeping outdoor gear clean, and reporting any signs of illness in birds. Epidemiologist Prof Michael Baker says he is concerned New Zealand has rejected the World Health Organisation’s latest revisions to health regulations. “We need to reverse that rejection as soon as possible, it’s not supporting the World Health organisation, and it’s not supporting the global health efforts to control and prevent these pandemic threats.” New Zealand must invest more in pandemic preparedness, he believed. Hoggard said H5N1 bird flu was a low risk
for human health and not a food safety risk. Baker agreed the disease did not currently show a strong ability to spread to humans or between them, and so was not an immediate pandemic threat, but emphasised that because diseases can change over time and most human pandemics start from animals, now is the time to prepare. “It’s not showing any significant ability to transmit between people, and that is really the most important single feature required for any pandemic threat.” People should not panic
about a potential new pandemic threat, Hoggard said, since bird flu had been around for about 30 years. “The main threat is going to be to our native species, and to our poultry flocks. “This strain of bird flu has been all round the world, and there’s been only a very small number of cases in humans.”
H5N1, bird flu, Andrew Hoggard, Prof Michael Baker, Health NZ, biosecurity, pandemic preparedness, Western Australia migratory seabird, wildlife reporting