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Department of Agriculture

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  4. Animal pests and diseases
  5. Avian Influenza or Bird Flu

Sidebar first - Pests diseases weeds

  • Animal pests and diseases
    • Avian influenza (bird flu)
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Avian influenza (bird flu)

Report any unusual bird deaths immediately and call the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

Bird flu is a viral disease of birds and is found across the globe. Bird flu virus strains are described as low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) or high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI).

Most LPAI strains of the bird flu virus cause minimal disease in wild birds and poultry. However, some LPAI strains can evolve into HPAI strains when they spread among poultry.

The H5N1 strain of bird flu is spreading globally, causing widescale death of poultry and wild birds.

Latest on bird flu

Supporting Australia’s bird flu preparedness and response

In recognition of the H5 bird flu threat, the Australian Government is investing more than $100 million into enhancing national preparedness and response capability.

This funding will strengthen surveillance, preparedness and response capability and mitigate the impacts of a potential H5 bird flu outbreak on Australian agriculture, environment and human health.

Through this significant investment, the Australian Government is committing:

  • $37 million over 2 years to protect Australian agriculture by enhancing national coordination of response arrangement and communications, strengthening surveillance and boosting biosecurity capacity and capability across the production sector and environmental biosecurity.
  • $35.9 million over 2 years to boost and accelerate H5 bird flu preparedness planning and protective action by using the best data available to target actions for our most at-risk species and important natural places.
  • $22.1 million over 2 years to manufacture and store pandemic influenza vaccines that will better prepare the Australian Government to respond quickly to a potential influenza pandemic.

Read the Australian Government’s media release and download the factsheet:

Download

Fact sheet: Supporting Australia’s Avian Influenza Preparedness and Response (PDF 245 KB)
Fact sheet: Supporting Australia’s Avian Influenza Preparedness and Response (DOCX 126 KB)

If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.

Visit outbreak.gov.au for information about the H7 bird flu response

Overseas situation

A highly contagious strain of H5 bird flu is spreading across the globe, causing widescale outbreaks. These have caused extensive losses of poultry and wild birds, and spillover infections in mammals. Occasional infections have been detected in humans. Many have been mild or asymptomatic, but some infections in humans have caused severe illness. This strain has not been detected in Australia, but there are concerns about the potential impacts on poultry and wildlife if it arrives on our shores.

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Facts about bird flu

About the disease and the risk to Australia.

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Domestic poultry and birds

Learn how to protect your birds.

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Human health information

Find out about the risk to people.

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Australian Government actions

Learn about prevention and preparation measures.

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Commercial poultry producers

Minimise the risk to your flocks.

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Contact with wildlife

Advice for wildlife carers and hunters.

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Information for veterinarians

Learn about diagnosing, sampling and reporting.

See more

  • Outbreak website (Animal and plant pests and disease outbreaks)
  • Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
  • Farm Biosecurity Manuals
  • National Wildlife Biosecurity Guidelines
  • Wildlife Health Australia HPAI Information and Resources

General enquiries

Call 1800 900 090

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Report a biosecurity concern

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Page last updated: 12 December 2024

We acknowledge the continuous connection of First Nations Traditional Owners and Custodians to the lands, seas and waters of Australia. We recognise their care for and cultivation of Country. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and recognise their knowledge and contribution to the productivity, innovation and sustainability of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.

Artwork: Protecting our Country, Growing our Future
© Amy Allerton, contemporary Aboriginal Artist of the Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung and Gamilaroi nations.

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