Sh0cking Close Call: Horror at the Beach as South Australian Man Nearly Bitten by Bird Flu-Infected Seabird
A South Australian man has described the moment he was almost bitten by a seabird suffering the highly contagious bird flu strain during a bodyboarding competition at Knights Beach in Port Elliott.
Aaron Brand, 39, was competing when a southern giant petrel flew into the break zone and appeared distressed and disorientated. The bird was knocked back by waves before being washed onto the shoreline on June 14.
“It just was disorientated, didn’t really know what it was doing … trying to take a little snap at me and luckily missed,” Brand told 7NEWS.
Locals and visitors to the beach thought the bird had a leg injury and appeared confused and tired.
It was picked up by a local who moved it away from the waterline further up the beach, before being collected by wildlife rescuers.
Well-known surfer Anthony Rowland was also at the beach and helped to move the sickly bird out of the rough surf.
“Not many alarm bells went off until it was getting pummelled in the break for a while,” he told 7NEWS.
Two weeks on, that same bird has now been confirmed as the third case of the highly infectious H5 bird flu in Australia.
Two earlier cases were detected in Western Australia.
A week earlier at the same South Australian beach, an unidentified man was bitten by a bird.
While it is possible for humans to catch bird flu, authorities say you have to have really close contact with an infected bird — which means touching the bird.
The flu is a respiratory virus and only spreads to other birds via close contact. As of Friday, no positive cases had been reported in SA’s commercial poultry sector.
Three other birds, including two deceased birds, have also tested negative to the virus.
Authorities have taken all precautions, throwing the wildlife rescue centre which took in the bird on June 14 into lockdown.
Veterinary clinics are also on high alert, with one suspending admissions of wildlife patients.
“Due to the recent detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1 Bird Flu) in wildlife near Esperance, and in accordance with current biosecurity recommendations, our clinic will no longer be accepting wildlife patients until further notice,” said West Coast Vets based in Forrestdale, Perth.
“This measure has been implemented to help protect our staff, clients, patients, wildlife carers, and the broader community from the potential spread of disease.
“If you find sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife, please do not bring the animal to our clinic.
“Instead, please contact the appropriate wildlife service for advice and assistance.”
SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said his state’s first case of H5 was recorded in a migratory southern giant petrel found at Knights Beach on the Fleurieu Peninsula on June 14.
“I know this news will be concerning for many people, particularly our poultry producers, wildlife carers and communities across our state, but I want to reassure South Australians that we are well prepared and responding quickly,” he said.
“Importantly, this detection is limited to a migratory bird that is not native to Australia.
“There have been no detections in commercial poultry flocks, captive birds or other birds in South Australia at this stage.”
The advice is for bird and cat owners to make sure their animals are kept indoors and for chicken owners to ensure their aviaries are protected from wild animals.
