Ministry for Primary Industries staff have spent the weekend carrying out checks in areas of Wellington’s south coast and Wairarapa following the first detection of H5 bird flu on 15 July, with no further cases yet found.
The Ministry said its well-established surveillance programme includes wildlife sanctuary notifications, zoos, along with poultry industry and vet notification.
“We have had specialist investigators out at Petone beach and nothing of further concern has been found. It is not unusual at this time of year to find individual dead birds of different breeds along our coastlines due to storms and other natural events,” MPI stated.
“To date, we have a single coastal detection in an individual ocean-going seabird and there remains no evidence of any mass mortality in wildlife or transmission between wild birds in New Zealand. There has been no detection in poultry.”
Over the past 12 months, through surveillance and monitoring activities in wild birds, more than 2,500 wild birds and 12,500 commercial poultry were tested for the deadly virus.
“We are continuing to ask the community to remain vigilant and report any sick or dead birds in a group of three or more,” said the Ministry.
If a member of the public sees more sick or dead wild birds in a group, the Ministry is asking that it be reported immediately to the exotic pest and disease hotline on 0800 80 99 66 or online. If reporting online, select the ‘dead or dying wild birds’ option from the dropdown list and then choose the type of bird you have found.
More information about H5 bird flu and the work New Zealand is doing to prepare is available on:Â H5 bird flu page.
