In brief
A common dolphin in Victor Harbor, South Australia, tested positive for H5 bird flu, increasing the state's confirmed detection events to 340. Authorities report that the virus has not been found in poultry or livestock, and the risk to humans remains low. The government urges the public to report suspected infections and to avoid contact with sick or dead wildlife.
A common dolphin caught near Victor Harbor on the Fleurieu Peninsula tested positive for the H5 strain of bird flu, bringing South Australia's confirmed detection events to a total of 340, the state government announced on Saturday morning.
The government emphasized that the 340 events may involve more than 340 individual animals, as a single event can include multiple infected animals and each detection is counted separately.
Since the beginning of the year, 2,874 tests have been carried out for the virus, while 15,872 reports have been filed with the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline since the noon of June 20, according to the latest update from the South Australian authorities.
No infections of the H5 strain have been detected in poultry or other livestock across the state, and officials said the risk to human health remains low, a statement that underlines the limited likelihood of transmission to people.
The authorities urged members of the public to steer clear of touching any sick or dead birds or wildlife and to notify the hotline promptly if they suspect an infection, a reminder aimed at minimizing potential spread through human activity.
Each confirmed event in the state may involve more than one animal; the government’s statements made it clear that the 340 events counted include multiple cases that could involve several dolphins, birds, or other wildlife in a single location or time period.
While the data show no current evidence of H5 in poultry, livestock, or humans, the government noted that these findings are based on ongoing testing and monitoring; the continuing surveillance may yet alter the current understanding of the virus’s spread and risk.
