Tag: Avian Influenza

Biosecurity efforts in remote regions have taken a major leap forward with the introduction of a portable laboratory capable of on-site testing for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1. Minister for Biosecurity Andrew Hoggard announced the breakthrough following successful trials conducted by Biosecurity New Zealand during an expedition to Antarctica. The portable lab was tested aboard the icebreaker MV Argus, where researchers used it to locate, sample, and analyze potential HPAI H5N1 cases under extreme conditions. The development comes at a critical time, as the virus first detected in 2020 has spread globally and was confirmed on the Antarctic Peninsula in February 2024. Affected species include brown skuas, Adélie penguins, snowy sheathbills, and Antarctic fur seals. "T...