H5 Bird flu surveillance and early detection video transcript

On-screen text: H5 Bird Flu Surveillance and Early Detection

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Voice over

As part of the Victorian Government's ongoing monitoring for signs of H5 bird flu, we have taken to the skies. Using a high-resolution camera mounted to a helicopter, specialist camera operators and mapping experts are scanning our coastline to identify possible H5 bird flu cases.

Called Aerial Intelligence Gathering (AIG), the camera can switch between high-resolution and thermal imaging, allowing our trained staff to identify potential wildlife deaths and disease from the air.

It means we can monitor the entire length of our coastline, including remote beaches, tiny islands and known habitat zones for seabirds and mammals.

The technology has been commonly used in the bushfire season to detect fire in the landscape or for search and rescue operations.

This is the first time this type of aerial surveillance has been used to assist disease detection in wildlife populations at this scale in Victoria.

On-screen text: James Todd, Chief Biodiversity Officer, DEECA

James Todd

H5 bird flu detections in seabirds has reinforced the need for continued surveillance to aid in our preparedness in Victoria. We know the most likely detection points are along our coastline, with the disease arriving on our shores via migratory seabirds.

On-screen text: Stephen Salathiel, AIG Mapper, DEECA

Stephen Salathiel

What we're doing at the moment in this aerial operation is providing really high quality vision and thermal imagery for animal health experts to assess.

We're probably doing 250 kilometres, 300 kilometres a day.

We've been seeing lots of seal colonies, lots of birds on the beach. They all show up quite well in the infrared view in the camera. So if we see something unusual, we can radio it in immediately to speak to ground crews.

It's a wonderful piece of equipment, a great asset to the state. So yeah, we're lucky to have it. And it's good to be part of the program, really.

James Todd

The Victorian Government's invested over $130 million in enhanced biosecurity preparedness, including on-ground threat management action to improve the resilience of wildlife populations to the risk of H5.

Early detection remains one of our strongest tools. That's why reporting from farmers, landholders, members of the community plays such an important role.

If you do see sick or injured wildlife, any seabird, water bird, birds of prey or marine mammal, then avoid contact, record what you see and report it.

Victoria's agriculture sector, regional communities and natural environment all depend on strong biosecurity. By combining new technologies with preparedness, vigilance and community reporting, in conjunction with sampling and testing, we are helping protect the industries and wildlife that are so important to our state.

Speaker

If you find sick or dead wild birds or wildlife, there's three important steps to take:

• Avoid contact with sick or dead birds, wildlife and their environment.
• Record what you see including location, number and species if known.
• Report it to DEECA online or call the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888

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On-screen graphic: DEECA logo

On-screen text: deeca.vic.gov.au