The Federal Government has launched a national education campaign on the H5N1 bird flu to provide "practical advice" to Australians on what to do if they come across sick or dead birds.
It comes as 652 bird flu events have been recorded across the country, with 319 in SA, 67 in NSW, two in QLD, 45 in Tasmania, 208 in Victoria and 10 in WA.
Speaking in Hobart on Sunday, Federal Minister for Agriculture Julie Collins said the new 'Bird flu - Know what to do' campaign will run across television, radio, social media and other channels for six weeks.
"I remind Australians to avoid touching sick or dead birds... and to report suspected cases to the emergency animal disease hotline through birdflu.gov.au."
Ms Collins said the campaign provided information to the public who may have questions about bird flu.
"If you have backyard chickens and you have localised bird flu in your area, it will give you practical advice about what to do," Ms Collins said.
"If you are taking your dog out for a walk and you come across dead birds, it will give you practical advice about what to do."
Adelaide University professor and epidemiologist Adrian Esterman said the campaign had consistent messaging.
"I think they've got all the right things, not to touch dead birds, notify the hotline if they find any," Prof Esterman said.
Calls to protect endangered sea lions
On the same day as the national campaign was launched, SA Environment Minister Emily Bourke reiterated the state's willingness to support a trial vaccine from America to help protect Australian Sea Lions against bird flu.
The experimental vaccine would need to be approved by the Federal Government.
So far five Australian sea lions have tested positive to the virus in South Australia.
All five cases were located on important breeding colonies for the endangered species on Kangaroo Island and the Pages Islands.
"We have made, if not daily, very regular communication available to the Federal Government to say that we want this into the country as quickly as possible, but obviously this is an experimental vaccine and it needs to be done in the appropriate way."
Ms Collins previously said there was no commercially available vaccine for mammals available.
"We are working very closely in terms of some of the trials that are occurring overseas, particularly in the USA, in relation to some monk seals that are being tested for a vaccine in Hawaii and California, and we continue to have those discussions."
Prof Esterman said the experimental vaccine being trialled in America was "definitely worth trying".
"And it's actually not H5N1 it's H5N2, so slighty different virus but very similar.
"They've tried it out in some seals and sea lions... and they've shown that it does produce an immune response.
"[Australia] would have to try and import it, we would have to go through all our regulatory authorities.. even if it did happen, it's still incredibly experimental.
"It's shown to give an immune response, but there's no guarantee it would actually protect the sea mammals, but if we can get hold of that it's definitely worth trying."
The epidemiologist said there would have to be a lot of red tape to cut if Australia were to import the experimental vaccine.
"This is an animal vaccine, it still has animal ethics committees it has to go through. I think you're definitely talking months."
