H5 bird flu test results taken from a giant petrel found washed up on a Geraldton beach have been confirmed as negative.
Earlier this week, a Geraldton local found the bird and handed it to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development for testing of the bird flu strain after two positive results were identified in migratory seabirds in Esperance.
A fourth suspected positive result has been identified in a giant petrel 30km from Esperance as test results for the Geraldton bird came back as negative on Friday.
The suspected positive case in Esperance joins the other suspected positive case of a bird found in Quindalup in WA’s South West region. Both cases are yet to be determined.
Also on Friday, Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis said there had been no mass death seen in birds, no spread to poultry and only two confirmed cases.
“I know there has been particular interest around a bird located in Geraldton. The bird found in Geraldton has been tested and recorded as negative,” she said.
Since Friday June 19, there have been 375 reports into the emergency animal disease hotline, with 43 prioritised for further investigation.
From these, 12 negative results were returned — including the test result from Geraldton.
Ms Jarvis confirmed WA remained in the surveillance stage, with DPIRD officers working hard to respond to reports of dead and sick birds.
“The increased reporting is an important part of our surveillance operations and we continue to receive a high number of reports of deceased birds into the emergency hotline from across Western Australia,” she said.
“I want to thank the West Australian community for their support. We appreciate the community’s efforts.”