CANBERRA – The Australian government said on Friday it will evacuate scientists from a sub-Antarctic island due to the "psychosocial risk" of a potential H5N1 avian influenza outbreak.

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) said it would temporarily withdraw staff from the Australian Antarctic Program's research station on Macquarie Island, a remote Australian territory located about 2,000 km southeast of the mainland.

The DCCEEW said that the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of bird flu has not been detected on the island, but that experts predict a high likelihood of significant mortality events during the upcoming breeding season.

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The island, which was added to UNESCO's World Heritage List for its outstanding universal value in 1997, is inhabited by up to 100,000 seals and millions of seabirds, including over 850,000 breeding pairs of endemic royal penguins, at various times throughout the year.

"This is an unusual measure, but it's the most appropriate course of action based on our assessments of risk and operational realities," DCCEEW Deputy Secretary Sean Sullivan said in a statement.

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"While the risk to humans of H5 bird flu is considered low, we can't ignore the psychosocial risks of living near potentially large numbers of affected animals."

The department said that the Australian Antarctic Program's flagship research and supply vessel, the RSV Nuyina, will travel to the island in late September or early October to retrieve 24 scientists, tradespeople and support staff as well as essential cargo.

Options to monitor the situation on the island are under consideration and Sullivan said Australia remains committed to maintaining a long-term presence on Macquarie Island.