An update on bird flu

@JudyEv (382922)
Rockingham, Australia
June 20, 2026 6:52am CST
The latest news on the bird flu saga is that two migratory birds have washed up Western Australia’s south coast and both tested positive to the H5 bird flu. The skua and the southern petrel were discovered east of Esperance on an isolated beach. They were obviously sick and died soon after being discovered. In 2024, ten poultry farms were infected with the H7 variant and over 2 million laying hens were killed during the outbreak. $95 million has been committed in public biosecurity and environmental funding with a further $11 million promised immediately before news of the first infected bird was announced. I wonder what will happen next. It’s all a bit worrying. The photo is mine of Frenchman's Peak near Esperance. There are a few French names in the area.
7 people like this
8 responses
snowy
@snowy22315 (209378)
• United States
9h
I guess there is no preventative antibiotic or immunization that could be used.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382922)
• Rockingham, Australia
8h
It seems not. I don't think they have anything to combat it at the moment. Once it gets in a flock it would be very difficult to inoculate all the birds.
1 person likes this
snowy
@snowy22315 (209378)
• United States
8h
@JudyEv They should be madly working on a preventative for that,so they can innoculate commercial flocks at least. There have been several epidemics of bird flu, and when it gets into commercial chicken production there is a big problem, and some strains affect people too.
DE
@DaddyEvil (174907)
• United States
9h
Well, that doesn't sound good. I guess all we can really do is wait and watch to see if it continues to spread.
1 person likes this
DE
@DaddyEvil (174907)
• United States
8h
@JudyEv That's very true... Wild birds are everywhere.
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382922)
• Rockingham, Australia
8h
The farmers will be keeping their flocks away from anything and everything but you can't stop wild birds from perhaps dropping in.
1 person likes this
Gary Marsh
@garymarsh6 (24150)
• United Kingdom
10h
Oh dear very sad news but I know how strict & cautious Australia is securing their borders to prevent the spread of disease.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382922)
• Rockingham, Australia
8h
We have very strict measures in place but unfortunately wild birds seem oblivious to them. lol
1 person likes this
Gary Marsh
@garymarsh6 (24150)
• United Kingdom
7h
@JudyEv Indeed!
Scott Ganschow
@teamfreak16 (43727)
• Denver, Colorado
4h
Despite all of that money, the answer is always "kill all the birds." Yet we never "kill all the humans" when there's a big outbreak of some sort.
Jimbo45
@Ineeddentures (35977)
•
4h
Wow It's not good at all on any level Infact it's bad Has it led to an egg shortage
Michael Duff
@Wrexxo (2229)
•
10h
That's terrible..I hope the bird flu is checked so that it won't cause huge damage
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382922)
• Rockingham, Australia
8h
Everyone is hoping that we can keep the disease at bay.
1 person likes this
rebelann1949
@rebelann (117307)
• El Paso, Texas
8h
I seems Mother Nature is trying to tell us something, I just wish she'd be a little more direct about her message.
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (136210)
• Marion, Ohio
8h
I haven't heard about it here. But of course this administration is trying to destroy everything anyways.