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

Waller SJWierenga JRHeremia LDarnley JAde Vries IDubrulle JRobinson ZMiller AKNiebuhr CNMelville DSSchuckard RBattley PFWille MAlai BCole RCooper JEllenberg UElliott GFaulkner JFischer JHFyfe JHay LHouston DKeys BCLong JLong RMattern TMcGovern HMcNutt LMoore PNeil OOsborne JPagé A-SParker KAPerry MPhilp BReid JRexer-Huber KRussell JCSagar RRuru TTThompson TThomson LTinnemans JUddstrom LWaipoua TAWalker KWhitehead EWickes CYoung MJMcInnes KWinter DGeoghegan JL2025-05-012025-05-012025-04Waller S, Wierenga J, Heremia L, Darnley J, de Vries I, Dubrulle J, Robinson Z, Miller A, Niebuhr C, Melville D, Schuckard R, Battley P, Wille M, Alai B, Cole R, Cooper J, Ellenberg U, Elliott G, Faulkner J, Fischer J, Fyfe J, Hay L, Houston D, Keys B, Long J, Long R, Mattern T, McGovern H, McNutt L, Moore P, Neil O, Osborne J, Pagé AS, Parker K, Perry M, Philp B, Reid J, Rexer-Huber K, Russell J, Sagar R, Ruru T, Thompson T, Thomson L, Tinnemans J, Uddstrom L, Waipoua T, Walker K, Whitehead E, Wickes C, Young M, McInnes K, Winter D, Geoghegan J. (2025). Avian Influenza Virus Surveillance Across New Zealand and Its Subantarctic Islands Detects H1N9 in Migratory Shorebirds, but Not 2.3.4.4b HPAI H5N1. Influenza and other Respiratory Viruses. 19. 4.1750-2640https://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/72830Highly 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.(c) 2025 The Author/sCC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/2.3.4.4b HPAIavian influenza virusH1N9H5N1New Zealandsubantarctic islandssurveillanceAvian Influenza Virus Surveillance Across New Zealand and Its Subantarctic Islands Detects H1N9 in Migratory Shorebirds, but Not 2.3.4.4b HPAI H5N1Journal article10.1111/irv.700991750-2659journal-articlee70099