Q&A – avian influenza H5N1

Expert opinion from University of Otago - Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka

Professor Jemma Geoghegan, of the University of Otago, Otakou Whakaihu Waka, co-leads a Te Niwha project aimed at understanding how and where avian influenza could affect Aotearoa New Zealand, as the highly infectious H5N1 virus spreads globally.

The virus has now spread to all continents except Oceania and was recently confirmed in a United States dairy worker who contracted it from cows. Professor Geoghegan explains what this means for New Zealand, its wildlife and potential human-to-human transmission.

How concerned should we be about bird flu spreading from animals to people?

H5N1, a strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (or bird flu), recently made the jump into dairy cows, infecting multiple farms across the United States. By examining the virus’ genome from cows and other hosts such as birds, scientists believe the virus may be transmitting from cow to cow. If this is the case, it makes it a lot more likely the virus could also transmit from person to person because cows and humans are mammals. That hasn’t happened yet, and it might not. But every time the virus gets into a mammal, it gives it an opportunity to evolve and get better at infecting mammals. This is something scientists, including Te Niwha experts, are closely monitoring.

Is there any way we can stop bird flu reaching New Zealand?

Unlike the Covid-19 pandemic, we can’t close our borders to infected wildlife. But we can be better prepared for when the virus does arrive. Bird flu has changed dramatically over the last few years. The virus can now infect a much broader host range, and therefore spread across a larger geographical range than was previously thought. So we need to adapt our surveillance systems. We need to get better at spotting then stopping the virus from spreading further. In a recently funded Te Niwha project, my colleagues and I are working on trying to better understand virus transmission among birds in New Zealand. We are also working on ways we can use rapid environmental testing to improve our early warning system.

How devastating would it be for our wildlife if it reaches New Zealand?

New Zealand is home to many bird species that are found nowhere else in the world. But over 80 percent of them are already endangered. This highly pathogenic virus has killed millions of birds around the world. If, or when, this virus arrives in New Zealand, it will be devastating for our native birds.

What should the public do if they see potentially infected wildlife?

The signs of H5N1 vary but the most obvious one is several dead birds or other wildlife species. Signs could be milder, including those related to the nervous system such as lack of coordination and involuntary movement. If you see sick or dying wildlife, do not touch them. They should be reported immediately to Biosecurity New Zealand (0800 80 99 66), which regularly investigates instances of disease.

Are there any vaccines or treatments available for wildlife?

The Department of Conservation are using vaccines in a trial with the aim of protecting our most vulnerable species against bird flu to prevent species extinction. The trial is limited to a small number of threatened native species including takahē and kākāpō. The vaccine being trialled has been used in zoos elsewhere and contains inactivated virus, meaning it cannot cause a bird flu infection.