One of Australia's rarest birds gets vaccinated as bird flu spreads

A vaccination program protecting captive orange-bellied parrots from bird flu has begun in Tasmania, as the first cases of the virus are recorded in the state's south-east.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania said the virus had been detected in a tern at Acton Park and at Triabunna in a forest raven, which was the first case in that species.

The deadly H5 avian disease had also been detected in a tern at Marrawah in the state's north-west, taking the total number of cases detected in Tasmania to 54 since it was first detected in August.

Incident controller Wes Ford said the department would now stop reporting individual cases, instead focusing on where the virus was being detected. 

Tasmanians urged to continue reporting

Mr Ford said the change to its reporting procedures "better reflects the situation".

"Routine testing in areas where the virus is known to be present can detect more birds with H5 bird flu," he said.

"Reporting these birds separately doesn't change the overall situation."

Mr Ford called on Tasmanians to continue reporting sick and dead birds they see to the department, and said that had been crucial in detecting the spread of the virus so far.

"Many of our positive detections have been identified because members of the public have reported sick or dead birds," he said.

"Those reports help inform our surveillance activities and will allow us to better monitor how the disease is moving across Tasmania over time."

He said there had been no mass mortality events in the state so far, and there had been no detection in the state's poultry industry, and chicken and eggs remained safe to eat.

Virus 'absolutely threatens' orange-bellied parrot

As the new cases were reported, the state government also announced a vaccination for hundreds of captive orange-bellied parrots would begin today.

The critically endangered bird, which was recently estimated to have a wild population of fewer than 100, was identified as a priority species when bird flu was first detected.

The state government opened a captive breeding facility for the parrots at Five Mile Beach in 2019.

This morning, Environment Minister Guy Barnett appeared there with federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins to announce the vaccination program was beginning.

"The H5 bird flu absolutely threatens its existence,"

Mr Barnett said.

He said 350 captive birds would receive two vaccinations each between now and February. Those birds will then be sent to Melaleuca to join the wild population.

Ms Collins said the vaccination program was an important part of Australia's biosecurity response to bird flu.

"The fact we've been able to detect the H5 bird flu so early on and that we're able to track it so well across the country shows that our biosecurity system is world class," she said.

Risk to people remains low

Mr Ford reiterated that bird flu remains low risk for humans, but that people are still advised to stay clear of sick birds.

"People can prevent getting bird flu by staying away from sick or dead birds and other animals, including their feathers, fluids, saliva, faeces [droppings] and other contaminated material," he said.

"Advice provided by the Department of Health is that human infection with H5 bird flu is rare and the current risk of H5 bird flu to people in Tasmania is low."

He urged Tasmanians to stay vigilant and report sick, dying and dead birds on the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.