New Zealand officials urge bird flu reports as online hoax claims spread

New Zealand biosecurity officials are urging public reports of sick wild birds amid three avian influenza detections, but researchers say social media users are spreading false claims that the virus is a hoax. The Ministry for Primary Industries has monitored H5N1 for six years and is working to protect poultry and wildlife, while the Department of Conservation vaccinates critically endangered species and a wildlife hospital operates an off-site triage centre. MPI asks people to report sightings of three or more sick or dead wild birds, as response efforts continue against the highly contagious disease.