Native, wildlife could be 'vulnerable' when deadly bird flu reaches New Zealand

Vigilance is being urged in New Zealand as Australia confirms another case of a deadly strain of bird flu.

A second bird tested positive for the H5N1 strain on Monday in Western Australia.

Otago University evolutionary virologist Jemma Geoghegan told Morning Report that New Zealand can't be complacent.

While humans can contract the illness through direct contact with infected animals, the biggest threat is to wildlife.

"We've seen internationally that H5N1 has caused major mortality events in wild birds and marine mammals, and many of our native sea birds and other threatened species could be vulnerable when the virus comes here."

Geoghegan said the most important thing was that New Zealanders and officials are vigilant, prepared and surveillance is widespread across the country.

Any sign of a sick bird should be reported to the Ministry for Primary Industries so testing can be done.

Geoghegan said symptoms include if wildlife didn't look like its usual self, appeared dehydrated or was not moving well.

Symptoms could be a "range of things" but it was best to err on the side of caution, she said.

"While this is not a human disease, humans have been able to be infected by the virus through direct contact with infected animals, so, it's best not to approach them and call the MPI hotline."

Geoghegan said the risk to the general public remained low at this stage but New Zealand needed to be prepared for the "global threat".

A December 2024 incident at an Otago chicken farm which saw another strain of bird flu emerge was a bit like a "dress rehearsal", Geoghegan said.

Officials had learnt a lot and conducted rapid testing to understand what virus they were dealing with.

Lessons had also been learnt from Covid-19 - and genomic sequencing is now used to understand how a virus is spreading.

"We've had some practice now - and hopefully we are prepared but we'll see when the virus gets here."