MOSCOW, August 3 (HS/RIA Novosti) - The Australian authorities have for the first time confirmed a mass die-off of birds caused by a deadly H5 strain of avian influenza, warning of a high risk of further spread of the disease across the country, Australian broadcaster ABC reported on Monday, citing Agriculture Minister Julie Collins.

Last Monday, the Australian authorities said they were preparing for a worst-case scenario after identifying new suspected cases of highly pathogenic H5 bird flu in seabirds in the southern part of the country. Last Wednesday, the authorities confirmed local transmission of the deadly H5 bird flu strain for the first time.

The first mass die-off of Australian wildlife due to the flu has been confirmed among greater crested terns found on an island off the southeastern coast of South Australia, ABC reported.

There are now 78 confirmed cases of bird flu in South Australia, Western Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, according to the report.

Sadly, we do know that once the H5 bird flu is spreading in wildlife and the natural environment, it is not possible to avoid significant losses, which is what we're starting to see now, Collins was quoted as saying by ABC.

So far, there has been no evidence of bird flu in poultry or agricultural systems and the risk to human health remains low, but Australians should expect bird flu to continue to spread across the country, she added.

Bird flu is an infectious disease caused by strains of the influenza A virus, which is prevalent worldwide. Many wild bird species tolerate the virus without showing any obvious signs of harm, but some, including domestic birds, develop the disease, which can be transmitted to humans.

In recent years, the virus has been actively spreading among wild and domestic birds worldwide. In 2022-2023, large-scale outbreaks were recorded in Europe, North America, and Southeast Asia, resulting in the deaths of millions of birds on farms.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar