Albanese government announces $95m bid to prepare for potential arrival of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian flu

The Albanese government will inject a further $95m to stop the spread of a highly infectious bird flu from crossing Australia’s borders, with more than 280 million birds killed and to other animals infected overseas. Australia is currently the only continent which hasn’t reported cases of the high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) strain H5N1, with authorities on high alert after 16 egg and poultry farms across NSW, the ACT and Victoria were hit by the separate but also highly pathogenic H7 strain, causing major supermarkets to implement purchasing limits on eggs. The new $95m in funding will be spread across three arms, including a $37m boost to amp up biosecurity responses, wild bird surveillance and a nationally co-ordinate communications plan, plus $35.9m to increase protections to safeguard vulnerable species and places. $22.1m will also be spent stock piling pandemic flu vaccines in the National Medical Stockpile, in the rare event of animal-to-human infection, and will be managed by the Australian Centre for Disease Control. Sunday’s funding announcement follows the previously allocated $6.9m to aid Australia’s national preparedness and response capability in case the H5N1 strain was detected on our shores. Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister Julie Collins acknowledged the strain presented a “real and significant threat” to the agricultural sector. “Impacts experienced this year from outbreaks of other strains of high pathogenicity avian influenza highlight the importance of continued investment in national preparedness,” she said. “Today’s announcement will strengthen our ability to detect any incursion and enhance biosecurity responses where it counts – working in partnership to collaboratively manage national biosecurity threats.” Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek also expressed concern for the effect the virus could have on the endangered Australian sea lion, and sea birds like the Christmas Island frigatebird, which only breeds on the island about 2600km north west of Perth. “While Australia remains free from HPAI H5N1, the awful reality of this disease is that – like the rest of the world – we will not be able to prevent its arrival,” she said. “As environment minister – my focus is on doing everything I can to protect our precious threatened species. In the US, the Centre for Disease Control has reported 20 cases of human transmission of the H5 strain since April, with the virus also causing spillover infections in dairy cows, and other mammals like mountain lions, seals, coyotes and black bears.