A second case of H5 bird flu has been detected in Tasmania, this time on King Island.
A Crested Tern collected from the coast near Currie tested positive overnight.
Staff from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania responded after a report came through the Emergency Animal Disease hotline.
The bird was taken to the Animal Health Laboratories at Mt Pleasant for testing.
Late Thursday afternoon, two more Crested Terns were reported at the same location by a member of the public.
Those birds were also collected and transported to the laboratory, with results expected on Saturday.
The first case was confirmed on Wednesday night after a dead brown skua tested positive at Burgess Cove, at Rocky Cape in the state’s north-west.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff thanked the community and NRE staff for their quick response.
“Unfortunately, H5 Bird Flu’s arrival in Tasmania was expected at some point given the spread across the globe and across other Australian states,” Rockliff said.
“We are prepared, we are taking a proactive approach and we are responding quickly.”
NRE Tasmania secretary Jason Jacobi said early detection and strong biosecurity are the best defences to protect the state’s wildlife and poultry industries.
“Tasmanians care about our wildlife and I recognise this will be a difficult period and that these challenges are likely to remain with us for some time,” Jacobi said.
“I would like to thank the many members of the public who have reported sick or dead birds to assist our rapid response.”
There have been no detections of H5 bird flu in commercial poultry, backyard flocks or agricultural production systems.
The government said Tasmanians can be reassured it is safe to eat food like eggs and chicken.
Anyone who sees sick or dead birds should avoid contact, record what they see and call the Emergency Animal Disease hotline on 1800 675 888.
