Fears that H5N1 bird flu may have reached our shores after a Palmerston couple discovered a large number of dead birds at Taiaroa Head have been allayed.
The couple were visiting the area late last week when they noticed "a large flock of noisy seagulls, among which lay about 20 or so dead young birds, possibly considerably more," by the Royal Albatross Centre carpark.
University of Otago microbiology and immunology Professor Jemma Geoghegan recently said Oceania was the last remaining continent that H5N1 had not yet spread to, and it was only a matter of time before the virus came to New Zealand.
Prof Geoghegan said the virus was initially carried by waterfowl, but it had since started spreading to other migratory species, making the risk of it coming to New Zealand "quite high".
"We have lots of migratory birds that travel all around the world and up to the northern hemisphere, and obviously down to Antarctica as well, where the virus is."
The H5N1 strain has been circulating around the world since about 2020 and has been spreading mainly in wild birds, killing millions of them.
Now it has jumped over to cattle and started spreading to other mammals, including marine mammals.
She said the virus did not yet appear to be spreading between humans, although humans were getting it from working with infected animals.
A person died in Louisiana in the United States recently after being exposed to infected backyard chickens.
"However, we know that viruses can evolve and change, and so while public health risk is low currently to the general public, the risks for those people working with animals are not as low.
"Things might change in the future if the virus does acquire the ability to transmit between humans."
Worldwide, more than 950 human cases of bird flu have been reported to the World Health Organisation, and about half have resulted in death.
Department of Conservation coastal biodiversity Otago ranger Jim Fyfe praised the Palmerston couple for bringing the bird deaths at Taiaroa Head to light.
The dead birds had since been investigated and their deaths were not believed to be related to H5N1 bird flu.
"Taiaroa Head is a huge breeding colony and you'd expect a number of dead birds there at any stage, particularly at this stage of the breeding season.
"There is a degree of mortality amongst the young, which could be for a number of different reasons, disease or trauma or food.
"I imagine what they're seeing is the normal mortality within a breeding situation."
Mr Fyfe said the whole country was on the lookout for the potential arrival of the virus.
If people were concerned about groups of three or more dead or dying birds of any type, they should call the Ministry for Primary Industries hotline, and they would investigate.
"Whatever you do, don't pick up the birds. Just leave them where they are."
