More than a month after the first detections were confirmed at Port Stephens, the state's departments for agriculture and the climate have confirmed a fifth case H5 bird flu in NSW.
Tests taken from a dead Greater Crested Tern found on the South Coast were confirmed by the CSIRO after a member of the public reported the animal, the ministers for agriculture, regional NSW and Western NSW said in a joint statement on Saturday, August 15.
The result marks the third confirmed case of the disease in an Australian native bird in NSW.
It follows the first recorded case in the state in early July, linked to a migratory seabird at Hawks Nest, triggering hundreds of government staff to converge on the region from July 3.
The two subsequent cases were identified in deceased Greater Crested Terns; one found near Narooma on the South Coast and the other near Wentworth in western NSW.
Public reporting is an important part of the response to bird flu, with calls to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline critical in supporting detection efforts.
The latest discovery is expected to trigger a similarly heightened surveillance response on the South Coast as the NSW government coordinates its response with the national efforts to monitor and control the disease.
A national surveillance program has been in place since June, focusing national detection processes early to respond quickly.
The state had been preparing for the first case of the deadly H5N1 strain for some time, Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said last month, and mitigation efforts were working effectively.
"The detection of a fifth H5 bird flu case in NSW is a reminder of the importance of our ongoing surveillance and preparedness efforts across the state," Ms Moriarty said on Saturday.
"While there continues to be no detections in poultry in NSW, we are working closely with industry, government agencies and wildlife experts to support a coordinated response and protect our poultry sector."
"Protecting both our native wildlife and agricultural industries is the Government's top priority, and we will continue working closely with industry and wildlife experts to support surveillance, preparedness and response activities across the state."
As part of enhanced surveillance, the NSW government monitors for sick and dead birds on the ground, on waterways and from the air using drones.
Bird flu has not been detected in commercial poultry flocks or captive birds anywhere in Australia and the risk to human health remains low.
Following the announcement by the Commonwealth that an H5 avian influenza vaccine has been approved for use in native birds, the NSW government is advancing plans to vaccinate priority captive native species to help safeguard vulnerable wildlife populations.
Priority species identified for potential vaccination include little penguins and regent honeyeaters.
Vaccination of other species will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, informed by the available science and evidence, plus disease risk, conservation value and practicalities of vaccination. Vaccination is one tool but is not a silver bullet and is one part of the broader H5 response.
The state was working with wildlife organisations including Taronga Conservation Society Australia to support the safe delivery and monitoring of the vaccination program, the ministers said at the weekend.
Environment Minister Penny Sharpe said it was expected cases would continue to spread in native wildlife, but the state was focused on minimising the impact on vulnerable species and populations.
"Our wildlife response is built around understanding which species and places are most at risk," she said.
"The public also has an important role to play by avoiding contact with sick or dead birds and reporting them to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline, helping us detect new cases and target our surveillance efforts."
