Overview
- Biosecurity Queensland confirmed late Tuesday that the northern giant petrel recovered from Noosa Main Beach has tested negative for H5 avian influenza.
- Authorities have recorded at least 13 confirmed or presumed H5 detections in wild seabirds across Western Australia, South Australia and New South Wales while Queensland has no confirmed cases.
- Volunteer rescuers handled the Noosa bird in full protective gear, transferred it from RSPCA Queensland to Twinnies Pelican and Seabird Rescue for quarantine, and raised funds to expand isolation facilities after a $30,000 crowdfunding drive.
- Surveillance and public reporting remain active, with more than 5,000 calls to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline and over 300 negative investigations helping map possible spread.
- Officials warn the detection of H5 in a native greater crested tern shows the virus may be moving beyond migratory species, which raises conservation concerns but so far poses a low risk to human health and no evidence of infection in poultry.