Deadly Bird Flu Found in Victoria for First Time

ABC South West Vic

Topic: Avian Influenza

Thursday, 30 July 2026, at 10:31 am

Thursday, 30 July 2026, at 2:19 pm

A type of bird flu called H5 was found in a bird near Portland in Victoria.

In short:

The H5 bird flu has been found in Victoria for the first time.

The bird flu was found in a bird near Portland in Victoria's south-west.

What's next

Victoria's Chief Veterinary Officer, Graeme Cooke, said more tests are being done to confirm the result.

The H5N1 bird flu has reached Victoria after a bird tested positive in the state's south-west.

The bird flu was found in a greater crested tern near Portland.

The dead bird was found on a residential property.

Graeme Cooke thanked the person who reported the dead bird and asked people to report sick or dead wild birds.

More tests are being done to confirm the result at a special disease center in Geelong.

Victoria has started its emergency plan to deal with the bird flu.

This type of bird flu can cause many deaths in wild birds and some mammals.

This week, the bird flu spread between some birds in South Australia for the first time.

The bird flu was first found in Australia in a brown skua near Perth in June.

The bird flu has spread quickly across the southern coast through migratory birds.

Another case was found in South Australia, near the Victorian border.

More cases have been found in Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland.

Concern for farmers

Victorian farmers are worried because they were affected by another type of bird flu in 2024.

Almost 2 million birds were killed in Victoria due to the H7 outbreak, and egg supplies were disrupted.

Dr. Graeme Cooke asked farms to review their biosecurity practices.

Farmers can protect their birds by keeping them clean and separate from wild birds.

People should always wash their hands before and after handling birds or eggs.

If you see a sick or dead bird:

Victorian Farmers Federation President Ryan Milgate said farmers had been preparing for a possible outbreak.

The agriculture industry has been preparing for this moment over the past few months.

Agriculture Victoria warned people to be careful around sick or dead birds and to report suspected cases.

Boyd Carmody is worried about the speed of the spread once the virus gets into the duck population.

Creswick egg producer Boyd Carmody has invested in upgrading his farm to prevent the spread of the bird flu.

The farm can lock up its mobile houses to prevent the spread of the bird flu.

The farm keeps its ground, houses, and feed clean to prevent wild birds from getting to them.

Boyd Carmody's problem is when the bird flu gets into the local waterbird population.

Concerns for all wildlife

Friends of Griffiths Island is a volunteer group that helps protect natural ecosystems.

President Tracey Gray said she was disappointed that the deadly strain had arrived.

The group is prepared for this, but it's another event that will impact the birds and biodiversity.

Tracey Gray said the infected bird, a greater crested tern, is a breed that tends to colonize together.

Greater crested terns are often seen in flocks.

The colony aspect of the crested tern is where transmission is a concern.

Deakin University ecologist Euan Ritchie is concerned about Victoria's critically endangered and threatened animals.

There are concerns for all wildlife, especially birds, because they are vulnerable to this pathogen.

Euan Ritchie says there are animals at risk that are already on the brink of extinction.

Among the birds of concern are the regent honeyeater, the orange-bellied parrot, and the swift parrot.

With mammals, there are concerns about the dingo, bandicoots, quolls, and even marine mammals.

Dr. Ritchie said the Burrunnan species of bottlenose dolphin is only found in Port Phillip Bay and the Gippsland Lakes.

There are probably less than 300 of these dolphins left in the world.

Increasing numbers

South Australia has just recorded its 15th case of H5 bird flu.

The positive result was confirmed in a giant petrel at Port Lincoln on the Eyre Peninsula.

All 15 of the state's confirmed H5 bird flu cases have been in wild seabirds.

Testing is underway on an additional 13 suspected cases in South Australia.

There are no H5 bird flu detections in poultry or other livestock, nor evidence of mass mortalities in any animals in Australia.

The risk to human health of H5 bird flu is low.

The 15th positive case in the state comes after Federal authorities said local transmission of H5 bird flu had occurred between birds in South Australia.

This is the first time the virus has been confirmed as being transmitted between birds within Australia.

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