The government will use a new six-week national campaign across TV, radio and social media to improve Australians’ knowledge of the H5 bird flu crisis as part of a preparedness plan.
The “Bird flu. Know what to do” awareness blitz comes as the number of confirmed cases hit 652 nationwide with more than 51,000 calls to the dedicated Emergency Animal Disease Hotline.
Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said it was vital to boost knowledge of what Australians should do when they find a dead bird or have pets like dogs or cats interacting with them would help the nation’s response.
She confirmed there was still no evidence of any bird flu infections in Australia’s poultry or agriculture systems, and said the risk to human health “remains low.”
Ms Collins, however, added that Australians needed to be as prepared as “we possibly can be”, warning of the consequences other nations grappling with outbreaks had faced.
“We are investing now more than $270 million to help safeguard Australia against the impact of the H5 bird flu,” she said.
“The fact that we’ve been able to detect the bird flu from its very first moment it arrived, and as it makes its way across the country shows what a strong system Australia has in terms of our biosecurity.”
South Australia with 319 and Victoria with 208 infections account for the vast majority nationwide — followed by NSW 67, Tasmania 45, Western Australia 10, one in Queensland, and one in Jervis Bay and other territories.
In an update on Sunday, Minister Collins confirmed that a $2 million dollar vaccination program run with assistance from states and territories had reached almost 10,000 native birds.
However, she warned that like human vaccines, “it doesn’t last forever.”
“It’s like a human vaccine. It doesn’t last forever. Birds need to have two shots,” she said.
“So, we are working with technical experts and states and territories are giving us their priority lists in terms of what they want to vaccinate, and the states and territories are undertaking those vaccinations.”
Among species selected for vaccination have been WA’s Carnaby, Baudin, and Forest Red-tailed black cockatoos, as well as Victoria’s little penguins off Phillip Island and St Kilda.
WA agriculture minister Jackie Jarvis unveiled an awareness display on how people can protect pets, backyard poultry and help manage the impacts on wildlife at the Perth Royal Show on Saturday.
“This campaign is about giving Western Australians clear, practical information about bird flu and what they can do to help,” Ms Jarvis said.
“We’ve had incredible support from the community, with more than 5,000 reports to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline helping our teams monitor what is happening across the State.”
Anyone who sees sick or dead birds or marine mammals should avoid and not handle the animals but record and take photos or a video and report to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
