Australia's First H5 Bird Flu Case: What You Need to Know

Avian Influenza

Saturday, 20 June 2026, 4:58 am

Scientists are collecting samples during a bird flu outbreak.

Australia was the last continent without the H5 bird flu strain.

A case has been found in mainland Australia.

Here is what we know so far.

What do we know about this case?

A bird flu case was found in Western Australia on June 14 and confirmed on June 20.

The bird was a brown skua seabird that died in isolation.

The bird was a sub-Antarctic species.

It's not normal for these birds to be on Western Australia's south coast.

They are migratory birds.

Sick birds can be blown off course.

The diseased bird was a brown skua seabird.

Another bird, a southern petrel, is being tested.

It died and had a suspected positive result for H5 influenza.

Australia was the last continent without this bird flu strain.

The strain was detected on Heard Island and McDonald Islands in October last year.

The Federal Agricultural Minister expected the strain to hit Australia.

If confirmed, this will be sobering but not unexpected.

We are prepared to respond to this situation.

The government has allocated $113 million for preparedness.

State and territory leaders will meet to discuss the next steps.

There is no evidence of mass bird deaths or infection in poultry.

H5N1 has spread globally, but Australia was free of it.

What is H5 bird flu?

Bird flu is a contagious virus that affects birds and can spread to other species.

There are many types of bird flu with different effects on birds and animals.

Scientists are studying the impact of H5 on penguins and seabirds.

Bird flu viruses can be high or low pathogenicity.

The H5N1 strain was discovered over 20 years ago and has caused many outbreaks.

Symptoms in poultry include sudden death and difficulty breathing.

Infected birds can spread the virus through body fluids and droppings.

The virus can also spread through contaminated clothing and items.

Can bird flu spread to other animals?

Yes, it can.

Wild birds are most affected, but cases have been found in mammals.

The strain is believed to have killed over 13,000 baby seals.

Can bird flu spread to humans?

Yes, but it's rare.

There's no evidence the current strain spreads between people.

Infection usually happens after close contact with infected birds or environments.

Some people have been infected through exposure to dairy cows.

Symptoms in humans can include fever and cough.

There are no vaccines against bird flu for humans, but some are being trialled.

People can protect themselves with protective equipment and hand washing.

What about Australia's wildlife?

Experts are concerned about the impact on Australia's biodiversity.

The virus has been catastrophic for wildlife in other continents.

Many bird species in Australia are at risk of the deadly strain.

A detection would be deeply concerning.

The government's risk assessment predicts potentially catastrophic impacts on native birds.

What do I do if I find a sick or dead bird?

Avoid the area if you spot multiple sick or dead birds.

Do not touch sick or dead birds or animals.

If safe, take photos or record the animal.

Report the findings to the authorities.

What impact has H5N1 had overseas?

The virus has been detected in birds and animals across all continents.

There have been many outbreaks in poultry and wild birds.

Almost 5.6 million poultry birds died or were culled in March 2026.

Most of these birds were in the Americas and Europe.

There were 95 new outbreaks in poultry across 18 countries in March 2026.

The black swan could disappear if avian flu takes hold in Australia.

There were outbreaks in Argentina, Bulgaria, Denmark, and other countries.

A further 335 new outbreaks in non-poultry were reported in the same period.

In the US, many dairy herds have been affected by the virus.

Two people have died from the virus after being exposed to infected animals.

The virus has the potential to devastate the poultry industry.

Agriculture has been heavily impacted in every other continent.

In the US, over 200 million chickens have been culled due to the virus.

A poultry farm in Germany was affected by the H5 strain of bird flu.

Have there been previous bird flu outbreaks in Australia?

Yes, there have been outbreaks of other types of bird flu in Australia.

All previous outbreaks have been in poultry and have been successfully eliminated.

In 2025, the H7N8 strain was detected at multiple poultry farms in Victoria.

The outbreak led to hundreds of thousands of birds being euthanased.

A year earlier, another outbreak of avian influenza hit properties in Victoria's south-west.

In 2013, an outbreak in New South Wales led to almost 450,000 birds being destroyed.

Saturday, 20 June 2026, 4:58 am

Saturday, 20 June 2026, 12:07 pm

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