Bird flu scare in Australia

CANBERRA - Australia will immediately impose a ban the import of birds from Canada until there is an adequate explanation about how pigeons that tested positive for avian flu antibodies reached Australia.

Federal agriculture minister Peter McGauran will ask officials at the Canadian embassy about the consignment of pigeons which arrived in Australian with full veterinary documentation from Canadian authorities that said they were disease-free.

Three of the 102 birds tested positive to avian influenza antibodies and for Newcastle Disease antibodies.

The infected birds will be destroyed and the rest may be returned to Canada.

Mr McGauran said what was most worrying was that the birds arrived with all the appropriate certification.

"Thankfully Australia's quarantine system worked as it's meant to, that we didn't take the certification on face value even though it is coming from an advanced country," he told ABC radio today.

"We have had apologies from the Canadian authorities but not yet an adequate explanation of the testing anomalies.

"Australia will be imposing an immediate ban in the importation of birds from Canada until there is further and better reasons given for the errors made by the Canadian quarantine authorities."

Mr McGauran said the birds arrived on September 5 and were immediately put into the highest level of containment in Melbourne.

He said the birds were not carrying bird flu, only the antibodies, indicating exposure.

"That could at some stage have developed into something else in the future," he said.

"Our science isn't so precise and knowledgeable. We don't know the consequences of further mutations.

"We have commenced discussions with the Canadian authorities as to return of the remaining pigeons. Otherwise they will also have to be destroyed.

Mr McGauran said Australian import protocols required the birds be quarantined for 55 days before export with testing and treatment and certification to be provided by the exporting country's veterinary authority.

- AAP