Here’s what we know so far.<\/p>\n
What do we know about this suspected case?<\/p>\n
The suspected bird flu case was located in Western Australia’s Cape Le Grand beach on June 14.<\/p>\n
WA’s Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis said the brown skua seabird died while in isolation.<\/p>\n
The bird was a sub-Antarctic species.<\/p>\n
“I’m told it is not normal for them to be on the south coast of Western Australia,” Ms Jarvis said.<\/p>\n
“They are migratory birds.<\/p>\n
“But I am also told it’s not uncommon if a bird is sick to actually be sort of blown off course, as it were.”<\/p>\n
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The diseased bird was identified as a brown skua seabird. (Getty Images: DeAgostini\u00a0)<\/p>\n
Another bird, a giant petrel, was also being tested.<\/p>\n
Australia had been the last continent free of this deadly strain of bird flu.<\/p>\n
Though Federal Agricultural Minister Julie Collins said it was expected the strain would eventually hit Australia.<\/p>\n
“If it is confirmed to be the H5 bird flu this will be sobering but not unexpected, given the spread globally,” she said.<\/p>\n
“I want to reassure the public that we’re well placed to respond to and to manage this situation.”<\/p>\n
This includes $113 million towards preparedness measures, the minister said.<\/p>\n
From here, state and territory leaders will meet to discuss the next steps, including increased surveillance.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
H5N1 has spread around the world, while Australia had remained free of the deadly strain.\u00a0 (ABC News: Peter Mullins)<\/p>\n
What is H5 bird flu?<\/p>\n
Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is a highly contagious virus that affects bird species and can spread to other species, including humans.<\/p>\n
Just like human influenza, there are many types of bird flu and they can all have different effects on wild birds, poultry and other animals.<\/p>\n
Scientists race to secure ‘baseline’ data before devastating virus arrives<\/a><\/p>\n Scientists are racing to get crucial population data on penguins and other seabirds before the deadly H5 strain of bird flu impacts the Australian Antarctic Territory.<\/p>\n Avian influenza viruses can be classed as high or low pathogenicity, a reference to their potential to kill chickens, not how infectious they are.<\/p>\n The high pathogenicity avian influenza H5N1 was discovered more than 20 years ago, leading to dozens of outbreaks globally since then.<\/p>\n Symptoms in poultry include sudden death, difficulty breathing, swelling and purple discolouration, and a rapid drop in eating or egg production.<\/p>\n Infected birds can spread the virus through body fluids, droppings and feathers.<\/p>\n It can spread also through contaminated clothing, animals, vehicles and items like egg cartons.<\/p>\n Can it spread to other animals?<\/p>\n Yes.<\/p>\n While wild birds are the most affected, cases have also been detected in several species of mammals such as:<\/p>\n domestic pets including cats and dogsfarm animals such as dairy cows, pigs, sheep and goatsmarine mammals including dolphins and sealswild animals including foxes and polar bearsanimals in zoos including lions and tigers\u00a0<\/p>\n Earlier this week new research revealed the strain is believed to have killed more than 13,000 baby seals<\/a> in the Heard and McDonald islands, off mainland Australia.<\/p>\n Drone imagery shows the death of elephant seals was found over the remote islands. (Supplied: Jarrod Hodgson, Australian Antarctic Division)<\/p>\n Can it spread to humans?<\/p>\n Yes, though this is far rarer.<\/p>\n There is also no evidence the current H5 bird flu strain spreads between people.<\/p>\n The Australian lab where scientists study deadly diseases<\/a><\/p>\n Step inside one of Australia’s few biosafety level 4 facilities, where scientists handle highly transmissible and potentially lethal pathogens such as Ebola and Hendra virus.<\/p>\n Infection usually happens after close contact with infected poultry \u2014 for example, chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese \u2013 or contaminated environments.<\/p>\n Some people in the US have been infected through exposure to dairy cows<\/a>.<\/p>\n Symptoms in humans can include the following:<\/p>\n fevercoughsore throatrunny noseconjunctivitismuscle aches and painsheadachefatigue.<\/p>\n There are no commercially available vaccines against bird flu for humans or other mammals, but there are vaccines being trialled<\/a>.<\/p>\n People can protect themselves with appropriate protective equipment and washing hands frequently.<\/p>\n What about Australia’s wildlife?<\/p>\n Experts have already raised the alarm as to the impacts on Australia’s biodiversity.<\/p>\n “Every time the virus has arrived in a new continent it’s been catastrophic for wildlife,” microbiology and immunology expert Michelle Wille told Afternoon Briefing.<\/p>\n \u00a0“We’ve seen significant species level decreases,” Dr Wille said.<\/p>\n There are hundreds of bird species native to Australia that would be at risk of the deadly strain if confirmed. (Supplied: Andrew Silcocks\/BirdLife Australia)<\/p>\n Invasive Species Council’s policy director Carol Booth said the suspected detection was “deeply concerning”.<\/p>\n “We desperately hope this is not the realisation of our worst dreams,” Dr Booth said in a statement.<\/p>\n “The recently reported mass deaths of elephant seals on Heard Island were a harbinger of the potential catastrophe for Australian wildlife if the virus has made it to mainland Australia.<\/p>\n “If H5N1 is confirmed, the government’s own risk assessment predicts potentially catastrophic impacts on native birds, while the virus’s increasing ability to infect mammals raises the prospect of severe impacts on marine mammals and other wildlife.”<\/p>\n What do I do if I find a sick or dead bird?<\/p>\n If you spot multiple sick or dead birds, the advice is to avoid the area.<\/p>\n “A key message for everyone is please do not touch sick or dead birds or animals,” Ms Collins stressed.<\/p>\n While humans contracting bird flu is rare, the strain can be severe and even fatal. (ABC News: Nicole Hegarty)<\/p>\n If a safe distance away, it is encouraged to take photos or record the animal.<\/p>\n This information can be reported to birdflu.gov.au or the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.<\/p>\n What impact has H5N1 had overseas?<\/p>\n So far, the virus has been detected in birds and other animals across all continents except Australia.<\/p>\n The World Health Organization (WHO) has recorded 1,204 outbreaks in poultry, 6,326 outbreaks in wild birds and nine outbreaks in bovines between July 1, 2025, and March 1, 2026.<\/p>\n According to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) about 5,611,000 poultry birds died or were culled in March 2026.<\/p>\n The majority of those birds were in the Americas and Europe.<\/p>\n In that same month, the WOAH’s latest situation report said there were 95 new outbreaks in poultry across 18 countries and territories.<\/p>\n Why black swans are particularly susceptible to bird flu<\/a><\/p>\n The graceful\u00a0black swan is a familiar sight in\u00a0waterways across Australia, but it\u00a0could disappear if\u00a0avian flu ever takes hold here.<\/p>\n These included Argentina, Bulgaria, Denmark, Japan, Nepal, Nigeria and more.<\/p>\n A further 335 new outbreaks in non-poultry were reported by 29 countries and territories in the same time period.<\/p>\n In the United States the number of affected dairy herds continues to grow, with 989 herds across 17 states having confirmed cases since March 2024.<\/p>\n Two people so far have died from the virus after being exposed while working with infected animals.<\/p>\n Dr Wille said the virus had the potential to devastate the poultry industry.<\/p>\n “Agriculture has been heavily impacted in every other continent,” she added.<\/p>\n “In the US, for example, since the arrival of this virus they’ve had to cull and destroy over 200 million chickens.<\/p>\n “Those are chickens that should end up with human consumption but are rather being killed because of this virus.”<\/p>\n A poultry farm plagued by the H5 strain of bird flu in Germany. (Reuters: Fabrizio Bensch)<\/p>\n Have there been previous bird flu outbreaks in Australia?<\/p>\n There have been outbreaks of other types of bird flu that naturally occur in Australia.<\/p>\n But, according to the Australian Centre for Disease Control, all previous outbreaks have been in poultry and have been successfully eliminated.<\/p>\n In February 2025 the H7N8 strain was detected at multiple poultry farms<\/a> in Victoria’s north-east.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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