澳大利亚南澳州周三宣布H5N1禽流感出现本地传播，在凤头燕鸥中检测到11例新感染病例[1]。其中7例发现于南澳州东南海岸，4例发现于坎加鲁岛[1]。州主管部长Clare Scriven指出，"我们无法阻止H5N1在野生种群中的传播"[1]。该病毒可能由来自南极的候鸟传入，已对全球海洋哺乳动物造成严重威胁[1]。
鉴于疫情风险，当局已暂停坎加鲁岛海豹湾约1000只濒危海狮的旅游项目[1]。澳大利亚现存仅12000只海狮个体[1]，坎加鲁岛及附近地区还有约10万只长鼻毛皮海豹[1]。H5N1在2022年已传入南美，造成超过30000只南美海狮死亡及17000只南象海豹幼崽死亡[1]；澳大利亚亚南极赫德岛领地也有超13000只海豹幼崽被病毒杀死，超过岛上新生幼崽数量的四分之三[1]。
澳大利亚海洋保护协会活动人士Alexia Wellbelove表示，"澳大利亚海狮根本无法承受我们在国外看到禽流感对海洋哺乳动物造成的那种死亡"[1]。保护组织已呼吁立即部署2亿美元基金以增强野生动物的抵御力[1]。
South Australia has confirmed local transmission of H5N1 avian influenza, marking a significant escalation of the threat to the region's marine wildlife.[1] Authorities detected 11 new cases of the virus in crested terns, with 7 cases identified along the state's southeast coast and 4 on Kangaroo Island.[1] The virus is believed to have been introduced by migratory birds from Antarctica.[1]
In response to the outbreak, officials have suspended tourism operations at Seal Bay on Kangaroo Island, home to approximately 1,000 endangered sea lions.[1] The precautionary measure aims to prevent the virus from spreading further among the vulnerable population.[1] Australia's total sea lion population now numbers only 12,000 individuals,[1] while the surrounding region supports roughly 100,000 long-nosed fur seals.[1]
The H5N1 outbreak carries dire implications based on international precedent. The virus reached South America in 2022, resulting in the deaths of more than 30,000 South American sea lions and 17,000 elephant seal pups.[1] On Australia's sub-Antarctic Heard Island territory, over 13,000 seal pups have been killed by the virus—exceeding three-quarters of the island's newborn pup population.[1]
South Australian Minister Clare Scriven acknowledged the limits of containment efforts, stating: "We cannot stop H5N1 from spreading through wild populations."[1] Alexia Wellbelove, a campaigner with the Australian Marine Conservation Society, warned that "Australian sea lions simply cannot withstand the kind of mortality we are seeing in marine mammals from avian flu overseas."[1] Conservation groups have called for the immediate deployment of a $200 million fund to strengthen wildlife resilience.[1]