New Zealand has confirmed its first case of a native bird infected with the H5N1 bird flu. A swamp harrier hawk, found in the North Island’s Wairarapa region, tested positive for the virus.
Bird Flu Outbreak
This discovery comes after a migratory seabird was found to have the disease earlier in the week. Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard stated that while it is disappointing to find a native bird with the virus, it was not unexpected given the previous confirmation.
Health officials have begun a vaccination program for 300 core breeding birds from five of the country’s most endangered species. There have been no reported cases of bird flu in poultry.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
