Detection of H5N1 Bird Flu on Australian Mainland
Tests conducted in Western Australia indicate a second bird may be infected with the deadly H5N1 bird flu strain, although there is currently no evidence that poultry or agricultural systems have been affected.
The highly pathogenic H5N1 strain has been confirmed in a migratory seabird found on the Western Australian coast. Agriculture Minister Julie Collins announced that a brown skua, discovered unwell last Sunday at Cape Le Grand National Park near Esperance in southern WA, died from H5N1.
Additionally, tests suggest a sick giant petrel found in the same vicinity may also be infected. Samples from this petrel are being sent to the CSIRO laboratory for confirmation.
This strain has caused millions of bird deaths worldwide and has crossed over into mammal species. Australian experts have expressed concern that the virus could severely impact native bird populations and potentially threaten marine mammals and other species.
Until this week, Australia was the only continent to have avoided this devastating strain. Collins stated at a media conference on Saturday,
"We all knew that we couldn’t be bird [flu]-free forever."
Kate Millar, Chief Executive of BirdLife Australia, emphasized the potential impact on Australian wildlife, saying,
"This virus has devastated wildlife populations overseas. This could be the beginning of a long fight to protect birds and wildlife in Australia."
The disease had previously been detected on the remote Australian subantarctic territories of Heard Island and the McDonald Islands in October last year.
Government Response and Surveillance Efforts
Minister Collins pledged a nationally coordinated response focusing initially on assessing the extent of the disease's spread among wildlife. She remarked,
"We will know within a few days about whether or not this has established itself in any populations in Australia, or whether it’s migratory birds that have come up from the sub-Antarctic."
She also noted that there is no evidence so far of mass mortalities or infection in poultry.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the arrival of H5N1 bird flu as
"concerning"but highlighted that the government had invested $113 million in preparation and was focused on limiting the virus's spread.
He stated,
"What we’re about is making sure, firstly, that we do whatever we can to restrict the spread. We, of course, always examine these issues carefully. We have prepared for it. This is something that has happened through migratory birds. It’s happened, by definition, around the world, and that is why we’ve been preparing for this."
Chief Veterinary Officer Beth Cookson reported that the WA government is conducting on-ground surveillance to determine if the disease is present in wild native bird populations. She advised the public to avoid contact with sick or dead birds but to photograph and report their locations to authorities.
Cookson commented,
"At this early stage, it is difficult to make a conclusion about whether the infection has established in wildlife populations. It is not present in our poultry or agriculture production systems."
Ongoing Monitoring and Public Guidance
Cookson acknowledged that the news of H5N1's arrival on the mainland would be concerning to many Australians, including herself, due to strong connections to wildlife. She added,
"We have been carefully preparing for this event for a long time. Australia had been able to learn from the international experience and federal, state and territory government investments have left us as best prepared as possible to respond to this situation."
A consultative committee for emergency animal disease met on Saturday morning to discuss the test results and response measures, including increased surveillance.
Cookson noted,
"It is an evolving situation, and there will be some information that we don’t know, and that will continue to emerge over the coming days, and potentially weeks. We continue to be on alert, looking for signs of disease, and the most important message for the public is to assist this through our strong biosecurity system."
Western Australia’s Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis stated that the two birds were found by a trained wildlife carer who reported them. She described the incident as isolated but urged the community to remain alert and prepared for the possibility that other birds and mammals could be affected.
She encouraged community members to report sick or dying birds to an emergency hotline and advised keeping pets away from wildlife.
This development follows recent confirmations that thousands of southern elephant seal pups on Heard Island and hundreds of adult king penguins in the subantarctic died from the disease during 2025 and 2026.
Concerns for Vulnerable Species
Fraser, an expert involved in the response, explained that governments have analyzed which Australian birds and mammals are most susceptible to H5N1. She noted that if the virus becomes established in wildlife, controlling its spread would be challenging.
She said,
"We’ve taken into account whether they’re already threatened with extinction, but also other natural traits, such as whether they’re water birds, whether they’re marine species, whether they congregate, to understand which species are most susceptible."
Fraser identified several species of concern, including the Tasmanian devil, a scavenger species, and the critically endangered orange-bellied parrot.
She also indicated that common species such as the black swan could be pushed onto the threatened list if affected. Marine mammals like the Australian fur seal and sea lion are particularly at risk if the disease becomes established.
Fraser added,
"There are indeed species-specific plans to help ahead of the disease, but also, if the disease arrives, manage the impact of that disease for Australian marine mammals."
She mentioned that the WA government is developing species-specific plans for birds including the black swan, little penguin, and blue-billed duck.
Governments have created more than 100 response plans targeting at-risk animals and important natural sites such as Ramsar wetlands and islands.
