In Brief
- Australia has recorded its first case of H5N1 avian influenza
- Samples are being tested for another suspected case found nearby
For years, as cases of the deadly H5 strain of bird influenza wreaked havoc among animal populations across the globe, Australia had been the sole continent to avoid it successfully — until now. The first positive case of the virus on the Australian mainland was confirmed on Saturday.
In a Canberra press conference, federal agriculture minister Julie Collins has confirmed H5 bird flu was detected in a migratory bird found in Western Australia.
What do we know about the positive case?
A single migratory wild seabird potentially infected with the disease was found in Western Australia on June 14.
Before the suspected positive case was confirmed, Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said on Friday it would be "not unexpected".
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"This will be sobering, but not unexpected given the spread globally," Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said.
The bird was a sub-Antarctic species — a brown skua bird. It was found on a remote beach at the Cape Le Grand National Park near Esperance, about 700km southeast of Perth.
WA Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis said the bird was isolated after it was located in an unwell state on Sunday and died that night.
"I'm told it is not normal for them to be on the south coast of Western Australia," Jarvis said.
"They are migratory birds.
"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."
What is H5 bird flu?
Commonly known as bird flu, avian influenza is a contagious virus that predominantly affects bird species and can infect other animal populations, including humans.
The highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian influenza was discovered more than 20 years ago. Bird flu strains are classed in seriousness on a scale of pathogenicity — the capacity of the strain to cause the disease.
In birds, including poultry, seabirds and dense wild-bird colonies, H5 viruses can spread rapidly and cause severe disease, neurological defects and sudden death. Infected birds spread the virus through respiratory secretions and faeces, contaminating water, soil, feathers, carcasses and shared environments.
Australia has had previous outbreaks of avian influenza in poultry, but historically these have involved other strains, particularly H7 viruses, rather than the globally dominant H5N1 lineage.
The country’s first reported human H5N1 case in 2024 was travel-associated, in a child who likely acquired the infection overseas and later recovered.
More recently, H5 bird flu was confirmed in wildlife on Heard Island, a remote sub-Antarctic external territory of Australia. Researchers believe the strain killed thousands of elephant seal cubs. A new report found 13,000 of 17,000 baby seals on Heard Island had been killed by the H5N1 strain since last August.
What can you do?
Dr Michelle Wille, a senior research fellow from the Centre for Pathogen Genomics at the University of Melbourne, says the risks to the general population remain low.
"The World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and World Organisation for Animal Health have confirmed that the risk to the general population from this virus remains low," she said.
But she said members of the public should report any sightings of sick or dead wild birds or marine mammals.
"It is very important that this is reported. Call the emergency animal disease hotline, which is 1800675888. It works in every state and territory in Australia."
She urged the public not to touch any dead wildlife, "but definitely have a look and take some notes about what it is, and the reporting is the really critical part".
Wille says the length of the global animal pandemic has given Australia time to prepare for its arrival, including the formation of a Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Preparedness Taskforce made up of representatives from agriculture, environment, and human health.
"They've been looking at Australia's weaknesses and trying to build resilience into wildlife," she says.
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