Port MacDonnell residents worry bird droppings could spread avian flu
Community members in Port MacDonnell have voiced concerns that the heavy buildup of bird faeces on public docks might pose a health risk, despite officials saying the threat is minimal.
At a town-hall session in Port MacDonnell, about 80 locals discussed the persistent accumulation of seabird droppings on a popular fishing pontoon and nearby benches. Angling club members, including Jennifer Cleary and Hilary Nicholson, asked for reassurance that the waste could not transmit avian influenza to people, especially via untreated rain-water collection. SA Health, while absent from the meeting, later issued a statement that the risk to humans remains low and that simple exposure does not lead to infection.
Mayor Kylie Boston confirmed that standard municipal cleaning will continue, but there is no specific plan to target bird faeces. Epidemiologist Adrian Esterman explained that the virus would be heavily diluted in water and that only very vulnerable individuals might consider extra disinfection. Residents like Lyndon Hampel said they avoid visible droppings for hygiene reasons, not because of flu concerns.
Why it matters
Local worries about bird waste highlight how public perception of disease risk can influence community hygiene and municipal services.
In this story
