About bird flu and the risk to New Zealand

[This video uses animated graphics to illustrate the words. The first scene shows four wobbly, sick-looking birds (a gull, goose, gannet and chicken) with spiky spheres representing virus particles floating in the air.]

Narrator: “Bird flu is a serious virus that spreads easily between birds.”

Narrator: “The type of bird flu spreading overseas – HPAI H5N1 – can infect many kinds of birds and travel long distances. 

[A globe-shaped world map shows virus particles over the upper part of the world. The words ‘HPAI H5N1’ appear on screen when the narrator says these words.]

Narrator: “It’s already killed millions of birds overseas, including wild birds, poultry, and pet birds.” 

[The words ‘Bird flu has killed millions of birds overseas’ appear on screen, as well as the words ‘Wild birds’, ‘Poultry’, ‘Pet birds’ with circular portraits of birds above these words – a gannet, chicken and parrot are represented respectively. The circles expand slightly as each bird category is mentioned.]

Narrator: “We don’t have bird flu in New Zealand yet, but it could arrive through migrating wild birds.” 

[A gull flies through a cloudy sky in a straight line surrounded by virus particles.]

Narrator: Here’s what to look out for – and how to be ready, just in case. 

[A checklist pops up on screen, with the heading ‘What to look for’.]

[The words ‘How the virus spreads’ appear on screen in an orange text box, accompanied by music.]

Narrator: “Infected birds shed the virus in their saliva, nasal secretions and faeces.”  

[A wobbly gull is surrounded by virus particles. The words ‘saliva’, ‘nasal secretions’ and ‘faeces’ appear on screen as these words are said, with dotted lines pointing to the relevant body part.] 

Narrator: “Just one bird’s droppings can carry enough virus to infect thousands of others.” 

[Screen zooms out to numerous identical gulls. The first gull’s dropping has an arrow pointing to it with the text ‘One dropping can infect thousands’.]

Narrator: “Once it’s in a flock, it can spread fast – sometimes in just a few days.” 

[Six gulls surrounded by virus particles shown on screen. Two are lying upside down with their legs in the air and crosses for eyes to show they are dead.]

Narrator: “People can also spread the virus without knowing it – on their shoes, clothes, or shared gear.” 

[A person is shown from the neck down, wearing a white t-shirt, black shorts and orange gumboots, holding a shovel upright. The words ‘shoes’, ‘clothes’ and ‘shared gear’ appear on screen as they are spoken, with black dotted lines pointing to each item, surrounded by virus particles.]

Narrator: “That’s why it’s important to clean up properly before and after handling birds.” 

[Split screen depicting hand washing on the left and scrubbing the bottom of boots on the right.]

[The words ‘Impact on wild birds’ appear on screen in an orange text box, accompanied by music.]

Narrator: “We’re not sure how bird flu would affect our native birds.” 

[Leafy foliage in foreground, a kiwi is in the bottom middle of the screen and a ruru (morepork) is on a branch, top right.]

Narrator: “But birds that nest in large groups – like gulls, gannets, and terns – could be most at risk.” 

[Slide transition to a lineup of three birds – a gull, a gannet and a tern – with some green foliage in the foreground. The words ‘Birds that nest in large groups could be most at risk’ appear at the top. The words ‘Gulls’, ‘Gannets’ and ‘Terns’ appear under each image as they are named.]

[The words ‘Signs in birds’ appear on screen in an orange text box, accompanied by music.]

Narrator: “One of the first signs is several birds dying suddenly, with no clear reason.” 

[Transition to three gulls surrounded by virus particles. The gull in the middle looks sick and has its head down. The gulls on either side of it are upside-down with their legs in the air and crosses for eyes to show they are dead. The words ‘Several birds dying suddenly’ appear at the top.]

Narrator: “Other signs – especially in ducks and geese – include being sleepy, wobbly, or unable to fly.” 

[Transition to wobbly goose surrounded by virus particles. A line points to its head with the word ‘Sleepy’, then a line points to the front of its body with the word ‘Wobbly’ and then a line with the word ‘Unable to fly’ points to its wing as the narrator says these words.]

[The words ‘Report it’ appear on screen in an orange text box, accompanied by music.]

Narrator: “If you see three or more sick or dead wild birds together, call the exotic pest and disease hotline on 0800 80 99 66. Don’t touch or move the birds.” 

[Two sick looking gulls and one upside-down dead gull surrounded by virus particles are on screen. There is a sign on the right depicting a hand with a diagonal line through it and the words ‘Don’t touch!’. The words ‘If you see three or more sick or dead wild birds together’ appear on screen towards the bottom. When the 0800 number is mentioned the words ‘Call 0800 80 99 66 appear on screen in an orange text box.]

Narrator: “If you keep poultry and notice signs of bird flu in several birds, talk to your vet first. They’ll help rule out other more common illnesses and tell you what to do next.”  

[Slide transition to three wobbly chickens surrounded by virus particles. The white one in the middle is sitting on a nest. The words ‘If you keep poultry and notice signs of bird flu in several birds’ appear on screen. When the narrator says ‘Talk to your vet’ this text pops up on screen in an orange text box.]

Narrator: “Want to know more about bird flu signs and how to report them? Visit the Ministry for Primary Industries’ website www.mpi.govt.nz/bird-flu.”

[Orange bird flu branding – light orange background with a darker orange feather with the tagline ‘Bird Flu Be Ready’ – comes up on screen with the bird flu URL www.mpi.govt.nz/bird-flu and MPI and New Zealand Government logos.]

[Video ends. End of transcript.]