Bird Flu in Australia: What You Need to Know

By Ahmed Yussuf

Topic: Avian Influenza

Sunday, 9 August 2026, at 5:07 am

Sunday, 9 August 2026, at 11:40 am

Australia had not had the H5N1 bird flu until now, but it has spread to every other continent since 2021.

There are over 200 cases of the H5N1 bird flu in Australia.

The virus is in five states, with most cases in South Australia.

Testing found the first big death of birds from flu in Australian wildlife on an island off South Australia's coast.

Here's what we know about this bird flu.

Bird flu is a virus that mainly affects birds but can also affect other animals and, rarely, humans.

There are two types of bird flu: low pathogenicity and high pathogenicity.

Low pathogenicity bird flu doesn't make wild birds and poultry very sick, but high pathogenicity bird flu can kill many birds.

Birds, especially poultry and wild birds, are very affected by bird flu and can get very sick and die.

It can also affect mammals like seals, cows, and cats.

Yes, but it's very rare.

The Australian Centre for Disease Control says bird flu spreads when infected animals shed the virus through their waste and body fluids.

People can get infected if they touch an infected animal, its waste, or a contaminated object and then touch their face.

A person can also get infected if they breathe in contaminated air or dust.

The US Centers for Disease Control says most human bird flu cases were the H5 strain, with over 1,000 cases worldwide since 1997.

In a recent US outbreak, 71 people got sick and two died between February 2024 and now.

Most human bird flu cases in the US came from dairy farms and poultry farms.

The CDC found 12 human cases of H5N1 bird flu in Bangladesh, Cambodia, and India since August 2025.

There were three deaths: one in Cambodia and two in Bangladesh.

Human cases are rare, and most people who get infected have a mild illness, says Dr. Matthew Koci.

Some people have mild respiratory symptoms, but bird flu can cause severe pneumonia and, rarely, death.

It can happen, but it's not common, according to the RSPCA.

Pets like dogs and cats can get bird flu.

University of Sydney's Michelle Campbell-Ward says domestic cats are more likely to get infected.

Keep cats indoors and dogs on a leash when they're outside with their owners.

Symptoms of bird flu in mammals include seizures, tremors, and breathing problems.

The RSPCA advises pet owners, especially those with cats, to avoid raw or unpasteurized animal-based diets.

Overseas cases of bird flu in cats were linked to contact with infected wild birds or eating contaminated raw animal products.

Pet owners should be careful if their pets are scavenging dead birds.

If bird flu is in an area where pets are outside, keep them indoors.

If a pet shows respiratory symptoms and has been scavenging, it could be bird flu.

Yes.

Bird flu has not been found in the Australian livestock industry.

The 2024 H7 bird flu outbreak led to the loss of over 10% of Australia's laying hens.

The outbreak caused egg shortages and price increases.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission paused enforcing free-range label rules.

Farmers can keep chickens indoors and still use free-range labels.

Free-range labels require access to outdoors and limited stocking densities.

The ACCC says producers must inform consumers.

We had a different bird flu outbreak about two years ago.

The last bird flu outbreak in Australia was in 2024, but it was the H7 strain.

Now we're dealing with the deadliest strain, H5, according to the Doherty Institute.

In June, H5N1 was found in Australia for the first time after several birds were confirmed to have the strain.

The last bird flu outbreak led to the loss of over 10% of Australia's laying hens.

The H5N1 strain is highly transmissible and causes severe infection, says Nigel French.

Previous strains were more like occasional spillovers between wildlife and didn't cause much disease.

The symptoms of bird flu vary depending on the animal but can include sudden death, lethargy, and breathing problems.

Wild birds:

Poultry:

Mammals:

Are other animals at risk?

The federal government released a risk analysis of over 2,000 native birds and mammals.

386 native Australian bird and mammal species are at high to extreme risk of getting bird flu.

The environment minister expects more mass mortality events due to bird flu.

He's concerned about the danger to mammals like seals, sea lions, and dolphins.

There was a mass mortality of baby seals on Heard Island.

We'll try to keep species at a safe population level, but it will have serious impacts.

Elephant seals like Tasmania's Neil the seal are at high risk for bird flu.

At least 30,000 sea lions were infected with H5N1 in South America.

Over 17,000 southern elephant seals died from H5N1 in Argentina.

The spread of the virus overseas raises concerns for University of New South Wales seabird ecologist Simon Gorta.

The impact of bird flu on these species is unprecedented and a major conservation concern.

What are we doing to prevent the spread?

There have been 220 confirmed cases of H5N1 across five states.

The federal government's national poultry biosecurity framework started on July 31.

State and territory governments are responsible for surveillance and biosecurity advice.

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is coordinating the national response.

A dead bird was found on a lawn in Robe, South Australia.

The public plays a critical role in reporting sick or dead birds to authorities.

Every citizen can play a role in preventing the spread of bird flu.

If you see a sick or dead bird, report it to the emergency animal disease hotline.

Avoid contact with the animal and record what you see before calling the hotline.

If you see a sick or dead bird:

See more ABC coverage in your search results

Promotion

Practice Listening

Practice Listening