Koalas ‘closer to extinction’ with new disease outbreak
A potentially devastating disease has been found in one state's last healthy koala population, further endangering the species.
animal diseases
Health alert as mosquito virus spreads in three states
A second case of the deadly Japanese encephalitis has been detected in regional Victoria after a handful of cases were reported in NSW and Queensland.
Bird flu case detected in Victoria’s north
There has been a bird flu outbreak at a poultry farm in Victoria, days after the federal government announced it had eradicated the disease from Australia.
WHO says bird flu risk low after US reports first death
A human has for the first time died in the United States after being infected with the H5N1 bird flu virus, health officials say.
Deadly bird flu could lead to mass extinctions
Australia is preparing for a deadly strain of the bird flu which could lead to the extinction of unique species, as authorities brace for its arrival.
‘Genuine risks to people’: deadly bird flu strain
People are being urged to become aware of what they need to do if they come into contact with dead birds killed by a particular strain of the bird flu.
Devastating bird flu strain ‘on Australia’s doorstep’
Conservation groups are calling for more funding to prepare for the arrival of a deadly bird flu strain believed to have killed billions of animals worldwide.
Environment ministers summoned over bird flu threat
Australia is looking at vaccinations for bird flu as environment ministers are called to a special meeting to discuss the threat to wildlife.
‘Pitiful’ funding for ‘looming catastrophe’ of bird flu
Pressure is mounting on the federal government to pour more money into bird flu preparations, amid warnings Australia's worst ecological disaster is looming.
Australia to simulate arrival of deadly bird flu
Agriculture ministers have agreed to hold a national planning drill to make sure Australia is ready for the possible arrival of the deadly H5 bird flu strain.
Australia facing unprecedented bird flu threat: CSIRO
Three different strains of bird flu are now circulating in Australia and scientists can not rule out more, with spill over from ducks and geese suspected.
animal diseases
conservation
endangered species
environmental issue
environmental politics
invasive species
wildlife
Govt lagging on bird flu threat to wildlife: experts
Australia's environment ministers have been accused of being missing in action and doing little to get ready for bird flu impacts on native wildlife.
Australia isn’t ready for ravages of bird flu: warning
Australia's environment ministers are accused of being missing in action and doing little to get ready for the impacts of bird flu on native wildlife.
Outbreak spreads with bird flu confirmed at 11th farm
A Canberra facility is the 11th property nationally that has been affected by a bird flu outbreak, as Woolworths imposes egg limits on some customers.
Experts struggle to crack mystery new bird-flu outbreak
Australia does not do enough to protect its biosecurity, an expert has warned as authorities work overtime to contain the spread of bird flu in two states.
Fears people will crack as Coles imposes egg limits
A growing bird flu outbreak is yet to hit farmed chicken meat but shoppers have been urged to avoid panic-buying after a supermarket introduced egg sale limits.
Thousands of hens to be culled as flu hits fifth farm
A Victorian egg producer will destroy tens of thousands of hens after avian influenza was detected at a second farm, bringing the number impacted to five.
WHO confirms first fatal human case of bird flu A(H5N2)
The World Health Organisation says a death related to a confirmed human case of infection with A(H5N2) subtype of bird flu is the first of its kind globally.
Bird flu cull leads to 450,000 fewer eggs per day
It could take years for farms impacted by an avian influenza outbreak to recover after the deaths of half a million chickens.
US curbs Victorian poultry imports on bird flu concerns
Poultry imports have been restricted from Victoria to the US after highly pathogenic avian influenza was detected in the Australian state.
US introduces ‘understandable’ poultry restrictions
The Victorian poultry meat industry is unlikely to be badly affected by US import curbs prompted by a bird flu outbreak, according to a peak body.
Bird flu outbreak sparks mass cull of farmed chickens
Thousands of birds at an egg farm will be culled after a bird flu outbreak as authorities reveal a child is Australia's first case of a deadly global strain.
Bird flu found in one in five US milk samples: FDA
The United States Food and Drug Administration says one in five commercial milk samples tested across the country contained particles of the avian influenza.
Wider bird flu spread worrying, animal health body says
The head of the World Organisation for Animal Health says it is worrying to see the spread of bird flu to more different species.
Search for children who may have handled infected bat
A search for four children who were seen playing with an infected bat in Ipswich continues as authorities warn the infection can be deadly to humans.
Kitty catastrophe as shelters impose ‘paws’ on felines
Just as peak "kitten season" gets underway, the RSPCA has imposed a four-week ban on the intake of surrendered and stray cats at its NSW shelters.
Beekeepers shift to suppress spread of deadly parasite
A parasitic mite that preys on bees has spread so far beyond a containment zone that authorities have been forced to switch to a suppression strategy.
Koala chlamydia vaccine trial secures $750k in funding
The federal government has invested $750,000 in a new Queensland trial to vaccinate koalas against a sexually transmitted infection.
People examined after NSW horse dies of Hendra virus
NSW has recorded its first case of the Hendra horse virus in years and is trying to assess who came into contact with the animal before its death.
Lyssavirus warning after sick bat found on Gold Coast
Members of the public have been warned to never handle bats after a flying fox was found with the fatal Australian bat lyssavirus on the Gold Coast.
Crocodiles are uniquely protected against fungal infections. This might one day help human medicine too
As the threat of antibiotic-resistant microbes grows, so does our need for new and effective treatments. Could the defensins of these beasts hold the answers to help create a new wave of life-saving therapeutics?