Avian Influenza Virus Surveillance Across New Zealand and Its Subantarctic Islands Detects H1N9 in Migratory Shorebirds, but Not 2.3.4.4b HPAI H5N1

• DOI: 10.1111/irv.70099
• Publication Date: 2025-03-30T13:02:15Z
• Authors: Stephanie J. Waller; Janelle R. Wierenga; Lia Heremia; Jessica A. Darnley; Isa de Vries; Jeremy Dubrulle; Zoe Robinson; Allison K. Miller; Chris N. Niebuhr; David S. Melville; Rob Schuckard; Phil F. Battley; Michelle Wille; Ben Alai; Rosalind Cole; Jamie Cooper; Ursula Ellenberg; Graeme Elliott; James Faulkner; Johannes H. Fischer; Jim Fyfe; Lance Hay; David Houston; Bianca C. Keys; Jenny Long; Robin Long; Thomas Mattern; Hollie McGovern; Lou McNutt; Peter Moore; Odin Neil; Jake Osborne; Anne‐Sophie Pagé; Kevin A. Parker; Mike Perry; Brodie Philp; Julia Reid; Kalinka Rexer‐Huber; James C. Russell; Rachael Sagar; Thor T. Ruru; Theo Thompson; Leith Thomson; Joris Tinnemans; Lydia Uddstrom; Te Arawhetu Waipoua; Kath Walker; Edin Whitehead; Chrissy Wickes; Melanie J. Young; Kate McInnes; David Winter; Jemma L. Geoghegan

ABSTRACTHighly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus subtype H5N1 has never been detected in New Zealand. The potential impact of this virus on New Zealand's wild birds would be catastrophic. To expand our knowledge of avian influenza viruses across New Zealand, we sampled wild aquatic birds from New Zealand, its outer islands and its subantarctic territories. Metatranscriptomic analysis of 700 individuals spanning 33 species revealed no detection of H5N1 during the annual 2023–2024 migration. A single detection of H1N9 in red knots (Calidris canutus) was noted. This study provides a baseline for expanding avian influenza virus monitoring in New Zealand.