Bird Flu Threat Sparks Emergency Meeting as Australia Seeks Global Guidance

‘Australia is the only continent in the world to date which has not had any detection of the H5N1 strain,’ Environment Minister Rebecca Vassarotti said.

Chickens walk in a fenced pasture at an farm in Iowa, on Oct. 21, 2015. Charlie Neibergall/AP Photo

Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has summoned state and territory environment ministers for an emergency meeting on Oct. 18 to address the threat of bird flu.

The meeting follows increasing pressure from conservation groups and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) government, as Australia braces for the potential arrival of the H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza.