Australia Confirms First Detection of H5 Bird Flu in Wild Birds

 Australia has confirmed its first detections of the highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza (H5 bird flu) in wild migratory seabirds, marking the arrival of the globally circulating strain in the country.

Authorities have confirmed that the virus has only been detected in migratory seabirds that occasionally visit southern Australia. There have been no detections in poultry, no evidence of transmission to native wildlife, and no reports of large-scale animal deaths associated with the virus.

The Australian Government has reassured the public that the country is well prepared to respond, with established national emergency response arrangements already in place.

Response efforts are being led on the ground by Western Australia’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and South Australia’s Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA). These agencies are conducting enhanced surveillance and working closely with the poultry industry, veterinarians, wildlife carers, and local communities to monitor the situation.

National coordination is being managed by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) to ensure a consistent response across Australia.

Health authorities have advised that the current risk to the Australian public remains low. People are encouraged to avoid handling sick or dead wild birds and to report any unusual bird deaths to local authorities.

Officials continue to monitor the situation closely to prevent the virus from spreading into commercial poultry or native bird populations.

Source: Australian Government – Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF); Australian Centre for Disease Control (ACDC); Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ).

https://www.agriculture.gov.au/campaigns/birdflu