Tasmania has detected its first case of the deadly H5N1 bird flu strain, raising biosecurity alerts across the state.

Parks and Wildlife Service officials found the virus in a deceased brown skua at Burgess Cove, located at Rocky Cape on the north-west coast.

Government authorities confirmed the positive test result following targeted coastal surveillance and overnight testing.

Primary Industries and Water Minister Gavin Pearce said the state is “prepared to respond” and “have developed a bird flu response plan”.

However, both Pearce and Minister of Environment and Climate Change Guy Barnett say there is currently no evidence of a wider outbreak, and the virus has not been detected in any commercial poultry flocks.

While the risk to human health remains low, Pearce said that commercial egg and chicken producers have immediately activated emergency biosecurity protocols.

“We’ve worked with the commercial poultry sector to assist them in development of biosecurity and preparedness plans and ensuring that they are ready to active those plans,” he said.

The Tasmanian public has been urged to distance themselves from sick or dead birds, record them with their mobile phone, and immediately report to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline.

Photo: By Gopala Krishna A found HERE and is used under a Creative Commons Licence. This image has not been modified.