Avian influenza virus surveillance across New Zealand and its subantarctic islands detects H1N9 in migratory shorebirds, but not 2.3.4.4b HPAI H5N1
Stephanie J. WalleriD, Janelle R. WierengaiD, Lia Heremia, Jessica A. Darnley, Isa de VriesiD, Jeremy DubrulleiD, Zoe RobinsoniD, Allison K. MilleriD, Chris N. NiebuhriD, David S. Melville, Rob Schuckard, Phil F. BattleyiD, Michelle WilleiD, Ben Alai, Rosalind Cole, Jamie Cooper, Ursula EllenbergiD, Graeme ElliottiD, James FaulkneriD, Johannes H. FischeriD, Jim Fyfe, Lance Hay, David Houston, Bianca C. KeysiD, Jenny Long, , Jemma L. GeogheganiD
Abstract
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus has never been detected in New Zealand. The potential impact of this virus on New Zealands wild birds would be catastrophic. To expand our knowledge of avian influenza viruses across New Zealand, we sampled wild aquatic birds from New Zealand, its outer islands and its subantarctic territories. Metatranscriptomic analysis of 700 individuals spanning 33 species revealed no detection of HPAI during the annual 2023-2024 migration. A single detection of H1N9 in red knots (Calidris canutus) was noted. This study provides a baseline for expanding avian influenza virus monitoring in New Zealand.
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