Avian botulism suspected cause of hundreds of bird deaths in Victoria’s Bells Swamp

Testing of birds is continuing but Wildlife Victoria believes paralysing infection is to blame

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A paralysing avian infection may have caused the deaths of hundreds of native ducks and water birds in central Victoria.

More than 350 birds were found dead at Bells Swamp, southwest of Bendigo, on Tuesday, with a further 55 needing to be euthanised and 20 requiring specialist treatment.