About bird flu

If you notice sick or dead birds or other animals, you should not touch them. If there are dead birds or other animals, take photos or a video.

Record your location and report it to the 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

See more on reporting suspected bird flu

Help protect our community, wildlife and farmers against bird flu.

What is H5 bird flu

Bird flu is a type of virus that mainly affects birds. It can also affect other animals and, on rare occasions, humans.

Find out more at Bird flu (avian influenza) | Australian Centre for Disease Control.

Avian influenza virus strains are described as either:

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. HPAI strains have high mortality rates. Some LPAI strains can evolve into HPAI strains when they spread among poultry.

Different HPAI strains have different risks. For example, H7 strains such as H7N9, have previously caused serious outbreaks in poultry and Australia has successfully contained and eradicated H7 bird flu strains in the past.

Overseas, the highly contagious H5 strain (H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b) has caused severe disease and high death rates in poultry, wild birds and affected mammals.

In recent years H5 bird flu has spread fast around the world. The wild birds that are most affected include waterfowl, shorebirds, seabirds and birds of prey or scavengers. Marine mammals have also been affected, with some detections in other animals like cats, goats, alpacas and pigs.

Overseas, H5 bird flu has been detected in:

domestic pets including cats and dogs
farm animals including dairy cows, and sporadically pigs, sheep and goats
marine mammals including dolphins and seals
wild animals including foxes and polar bears

Signs of bird flu

Infected animals might look very sick—or show no signs at all. Sometimes birds can die suddenly without warning.

That’s why it’s important to report any sick or dead birds or other animals, even if you're unsure.

Common signs of bird flu in animals

Keep watch for signs of bird flu.

Wild birds

can’t stand, walk, or fly properly
droopy or puffed-up appearance
breathing problems (panting or sneezing)
unusual head or neck posture
sudden death (especially in large numbers)

Poultry (chickens, ducks, etc.)

sudden drop in egg production
lethargy or not eating/drinking
swollen head or limbs
bruising on comb, feet, or skin
breathing issues or runny nose
sudden death

Mammals (seals, cows, cats, etc.)

weakness or tiredness
trouble walking or breathing
seizures, tremors or walking in circles
drooling or runny nose
sudden illness or death

Bird flu can only be confirmed through laboratory testing. Samples must be collected by a veterinarian or government animal health officer.

How bird flu spreads

Infected birds can spread the virus through body fluids, droppings and feathers. In the right conditions, the virus can survive in the environment for months.

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

Most bird flu strains do not spread easily from animals to people. There is no evidence that the current H5 bird flu strain spreads between people. Bird flu transmission requires close contact with infected birds or other infected animals, or contaminated environments.

Bird flu in Australia

In June 2026, Australia had its first detections of the H5 bird flu in migratory seabirds on Australia’s southern coast.

You can read more on this detection at birdflu.gov.au.

The 2025 H7 bird flu outbreak in Victoria was eradicated in June 2025. This is a different strain to the H5 bird flu strain.

We have contained and eradicated H7 bird flu several times over the past 50 years. This demonstrates the strength of our established national response arrangements.

Find out more on what we have done to prepare for bird flu.