New Zealand confirms first H5N1 bird flu case in native bird

New Zealand detected on Friday (Jul 17) the first infection of a native bird by the deadly H5N1 bird flu, days after confirming a migratory seabird had tested positive in the country's first recorded case of the disease.A swamp harrier hawk, known locally as a kahu and found in the North Island's Wairarapa region, had been infected with the virus, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard said in a statement.New Zealand reported its first confirmed detection on Wednesday, in a brown skua found near Wellington."While it's disappointing to find a native bird with H5 bird flu, it’s not unexpected following the confirmation earlier this week of our first case," Hoggard said. "This hawk can go out to the coast - especially in winter to hunt. Hawks can get bird flu by hunting, eating, or scavenging in