TR: RSOE EDIS – Event Report – Biological Hazard : Meadow Springs, State of Western Australia, Australia, Australia – New-Zealand

RSOE Emergency and Disaster Information Service, Budapest, Hungary
Event report

April 22nd 2019 05:44 AM – Biological Hazard – BH-20190422-67579-AUS

Base information

EDIS Code: BH-20190422-67579-AUS
Event date: April 22nd 2019 05:44 AM
Category: Biological Hazard
Continent: Australia - New-Zealand
Country: Australia
State: State of Western Australia
Settlement: Meadow Springs
Location:
Coordinate: -32.507,115.745 (WGS84 decimal)

CAP Information

Category: Env - Pollution and other environmental
Urgency: Past - Responsive action is no longer required
Severity: Severe - Significant threat to life or property
Scope: Public - For general dissemination to unrestricted audiences
Certainty: Observed - Determined to have occurred or to be ongoing

Event details

There have been reports of a number of dead ducks at a lake in Meadow Springs, believed to be killed by a local botulism outbreak. Botulism is one of the most common causes of death in birds like chickens, ducks, geese and guinea fowl. It can affect both free-range and caged birds as well as wild birds. The deadly disease occurs when birds eat food or drink water containing the botulism toxin produced by a bacteria that is commonly found in soil and in rotting vegetation, food or carcasses. It produces a very potent toxin that acts on the bird’s nervous system, causing weakness, paralysis and sometimes death. Western Australian Seabird Rescue announced the alert on their Facebook page on April 21. "Meadow Springs (Mandurah) residents – this small lake has been identified as another probable botulism outbreak area with several dead ducks seen yesterday," they wrote. The lake is within a park bordered by Glenelg Way, Pebble Beach Boulevard and Grandmere Parade in Meadow Springs. The rescue group said botulism outbreaks happened every year "following the first autumn rains" when the birds have access to wet, decomposing feed. "The heavy rains have re-flooded many wetlands and we are about to have a few warm days so botulism outbreaks could occur anywhere," the Facebook post read. Western Australian Seabird Rescue suggested residents who see any sick or dead birds call them on 6102 8464 "as soon as possible". "Time is critical to outcomes with botulism," they wrote on Facebook. "It’s also critical to remove the dead birds from the water so other birds don’t feed on their carcasses and become affected too." The group recommended to keep dogs on a lead if they walk them within the vicinity of the affected park to ensure they don’t pick up an infected carcass and asked residents not to throw bread or other food into the water as it will "exacerbate the issue".

Biohazard Information

Disease name: Botulism
Biohazard level: Level 2 - Medium
Biohazard definitions: Bacteria and viruses that cause only mild disease to humans, or are difficult to contract via aerosol in a lab setting, such as hepatitis A, B, and C, influenza A, Lyme disease, salmonella, mumps, measles, scrapie, dengue fever, and HIV. "Routine diagnostic work with clinical specimens can be done safely at Biosafety Level 2, using Biosafety Level 2 practices and procedures. Research work (including co-cultivation, virus replication studies, or manipulations involving concentrated virus) can be done in a BSL-2 (P2) facility, using BSL-3 practices and procedures. Virus production activities, including virus concentrations, require a BSL-3 (P3) facility and use of BSL-3 practices and procedures", see Recommended Biosafety Levels for Infectious Agents.

Event map

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