Suspected Bird Flu Case Detected in Western Australia

For years Australia has remained the last continent to avoid the deadly H5 strain of avian influenza.

Now a suspected positive case has hit our shores.

Here's what we know so far.

What do we know about this suspected case?

The suspected bird flu case was located in Western Australia's Cape Le Grand beach on June 14.

WA's Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis said the brown skua seabird died while in isolation.

The bird was a sub-Antarctic species.

"I'm told it is not normal for them to be on the south coast of Western Australia," Ms Jarvis said.

"They are migratory birds.

"But I am also told it's not uncommon if a bird is sick to actually be sort of blown off course, as it were."

Another bird, a giant petrel, was also being tested.

Genomic sequencing will be used to confirm whether or not it is H5N1, and if so where it came from and what mutations it has.

Australia had been the last continent free of this deadly strain of bird flu.

Though Federal Agricultural Minister Julie Collins said it was expected the strain would eventually hit Australia.

"If it is confirmed to be the H5 bird flu this will be sobering but not unexpected, given the spread globally," she said.

"I want to reassure the public that we're well placed to respond to and to manage this situation."

This includes $113 million towards preparedness measures, the minister said.

From here, state and territory leaders will meet to discuss the next steps, including increased surveillance.

What is H5 bird flu?

Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is a highly contagious virus that affects bird species and can spread to other species, including humans.

Just like human influenza, there are many types of bird flu and they can all have different effects on wild birds, poultry and other animals.

Avian influenza viruses can be classed as high or low pathogenicity, a reference to their potential to kill chickens, not how infectious they are.

The high pathogenicity avian influenza H5N1 was discovered more than 20 years ago, leading to dozens of outbreaks globally since then.

Symptoms in poultry include sudden death, difficulty breathing, swelling and purple discolouration, and a rapid drop in eating or egg production.

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

It can spread also through contaminated clothing, animals, vehicles and items like egg cartons.

Can it spread to other animals?

Yes.

While wild birds are the most affected, cases have also been detected in several mammals:

domestic pets including cats and dogs

farm animals such as dairy cows, pigs, sheep and goats

marine mammals including dolphins and seals

wild animals including foxes and polar bears.

Earlier this week new research revealed the strain is believed to have killed more than 13,000 baby seals in the Heard and McDonald islands, off mainland Australia.

Can it spread to humans?

Yes, though this is far rarer.

There is also no evidence the current H5 bird flu strain spreads between people.

Infection usually happens after close contact with infected poultry — for example, chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese – or contaminated environments.

Some people in the US have been infected through exposure to cows.

Symptoms in humans can include the following:

fever

cough

sore throat

runny nose

conjunctivitis

muscle aches and pains

headache

fatigue.

There are no commercially available vaccines against bird flu for humans or other mammals, but there are vaccines being trialled.

People can protect themselves with appropriate protective equipment and washing hands frequently.

What about Australia's wildlife?

Experts have already raised the alarm as to the impacts on Australia's biodiversity.

"Every time the virus has arrived in a new continent it's been catastrophic for wildlife," microbiology and immunology expert Michelle Wille told Afternoon Briefing.

"We've seen significant species level decreases," Dr Wille said.

Invasive Species Council's policy director Carol Booth said the suspected detection was "deeply concerning".

"We desperately hope this is not the realisation of our worst dreams," Dr Booth said in a statement.

"If H5N1 is confirmed, the government's own risk assessment predicts potentially catastrophic impacts on native birds, while the virus's increasing ability to infect mammals raises the prospect of severe impacts on marine mammals and other wildlife."

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

If you spot multiple sick or dead birds, the advice is to avoid the area.

If a safe distance away, it is encouraged to take photos or record the animal.

This information can be reported to birdflu.gov.au or the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

What impact has H5N1 had overseas?

So far, the virus has been detected in birds and other animals across all continents except Australia.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recorded 1,204 outbreaks in poultry, 6,326 outbreaks in wild birds and nine outbreaks in bovines between July 1, 2025, and March 1, 2026.

According to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) about 5,611,000 poultry birds died or were culled in March 2026.

The majority of those birds were in the Americas and Europe.

In that same month, the WOAH's latest situation report said there were 95 new outbreaks in poultry across 18 countries and territories.

These included Argentina, Bulgaria, Denmark, Japan, Nepal, Nigeria and more.

A further 335 new outbreaks in non-poultry were reported by 29 countries and territories in the same time period.

In the United States the number of affected dairy herds continues to grow, with 989 herds across 17 states having confirmed cases since March 2024.

Two people so far have died from the virus after being exposed while working with infected animals.

Dr Wille said the virus had the potential to devastate the poultry industry.

"Agriculture has been heavily impacted in every other continent," she added.

"Those are chickens that should end up with human consumption but are rather being killed because of this virus."

Have there been previous bird flu outbreaks in Australia?

There have been outbreaks of other strains of bird flu that naturally occur in Australia.

But, according to the Australian Centre for Disease Control, all previous outbreaks have been in poultry and have been successfully eliminated.

In February 2025 the H7N8 strain was detected at multiple poultry farms in Victoria's north-east.

The outbreak meant hundreds of thousands of birds were euthanased with restricted zones established around the region to prevent the disease from spreading.

A year earlier another outbreak of avian influenza, the H7N3 strain, hit more properties in Victoria's south-west.

A 2013 outbreak in the New South Wales town of Young saw almost 450,000 birds destroyed.

The New South Wales Department of Primary Industries confirmed it was an outbreak of the H7 strain.