H5N1 found in NSW wild birds signals new baseline for poultry farms

A giant petrel at Hawks Nest tested positive for clade 2.3.4.4b—the strain sweeping North America and Europe since 2021. Finding it in a seabird rather than a farm provides some breathing room, but confirms H5N1 is in NSW waters. How the DPI responds will shape the sector's next move. For commercial operators, the message is immediate: tighten wild-bird exclusion now. This isn't theoretical any longer.