Australia's Bird Flu Problem
Stephanie Richards also wrote this.
The topic is Avian Influenza.
This was on Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 9:15am.
H5 bird flu is spreading in Australia. Wetland ducks will help spread the disease to other birds.
South Australia has had bad luck with H5 bird flu. The state's chief veterinary officer said this.
South Australia has more than three quarters of Australia's confirmed bird flu cases.
There was a mass death of about 80 birds near Cape Jaffa in late July.
The chief veterinary officer said they were just unlucky to be the first place where the disease spread.
Authorities are tightening biosecurity and monitoring birds. The Royal Adelaide Show will not have bird competitions.
Experts warn the disease will not stay on the coast. It could go inland.
Australia has been waiting for the disease to arrive for years.
The H5N1 variant has spread to every continent, including Antarctica, since 1996.
Other countries have tried to protect their birds from wild birds to prevent the disease from spreading.
When the disease spreads, the only option is to kill the infected birds and quarantine the area.
The chief veterinary officer said South Australia was unlucky to have most of the H5 cases.
Bird flu is a disease that farmers have been worried about for decades.
It's sad to watch, but it has given them time to prepare.
The poultry industry has been preparing for this.
The disease is following a similar path to what happened in other countries.
Will it spread from the coast to other areas?
In South America, the disease spread to sea lions and elephant seals.
Australia's first case was found in elephant seals on Heard Island.
Many have died since then.
Efforts are being made to protect endangered sea mammals.
Most cases in South Australia have been in coastal areas.
But a case was found in Monarto, 20 kilometres inland.
Most cases have been in greater crested tern species, but other birds have also been infected.
Ducks will likely spread the disease further inland.
Ducks can carry the disease and spread it to other birds.
The disease survives longer in fresh water.
Ducks defecate in the water and feed in the same water as other birds, which spreads the disease.
Chris Purnell said ducks could carry the H5 variant further inland.
The chief veterinary officer said the increase in cases was not unexpected.
As soon as they found evidence of local transmission, they knew it would spread.
There is low concern for humans, but fears for other animals.
H5 bird flu can infect humans, but this is rare.
Fewer than 1,000 people have contracted the disease since it was first found.
Only people in close contact with infected animals are at risk.
This has happened to people who work with poultry or in live markets.
A similar form of H5N1 has been found in US cattle herds.
The US cattle were infected by the same H5N1 clade as the one in Australia.
It's possible that the disease could spread to cattle in Australia.
Many mammal species can be affected by the disease.
Experts are more concerned about native animals.
Scavenging birds like eagles could pick up the disease from carrion.
More on bird flu.
Topic: Avian Influenza.
Topic: Avian Influenza.
Topic: Avian Influenza.
Topic: Avian Influenza.
Topic: Avian Influenza.
What can we do?
While there is concern for the spread, experts say there are still actions that can be taken.
Leaving birds alone is important.
Reducing disturbance to birds is crucial.
It's not only about not disturbing them but also about reducing their stress.
The early impact of H5N1 in South Australia has not been easy for communities.
The worst is yet to come.
The Australian population will be devastated if the disease spreads to iconic species.
If the virus gets into these populations, people will wonder if there's more that can be done.
See more ABC coverage.
Promotion.
Top Stories.
Topic: AFL.
Topic: Air Transport Industry.
Analysis by Clare Armstrong.
Topic: World Politics.
Analysis by Laura Tingle.
Related stories.
Topic: Avian Influenza.
Topic: Avian Influenza.
Topic: Avian Influenza.
Related topics.
Adelaide.
Animals.
Australia.
Avian Influenza.
Influenza.
Poultry Farming.
Robe.
SA.
Top Stories.
Topic: AFL.
Topic: Air Transport Industry.
Analysis by Clare Armstrong.
Topic: World Politics.
Analysis by Laura Tingle.
Just In.
Topic: Pregnancy and Childbirth.
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 12:00pm.
Topic: Explainer.
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 11:53am.
Topic: Divorce.
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 11:54am.
Topic: Air Transport Industry.
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 11:08am.