Australia remains free from the highly contagious strain of H5 avian influenza (bird flu) (specifically clade 2.3.4.4b) that continues to spread overseas.
This strain has caused illness and death in poultry, wild birds and mammals overseas. If it reaches Australia, this disease would have significant impacts on our agricultural industries, unique wildlife and the national economy.
We recognise the interconnection between people, animals and ecosystems and we are taking a One Health approach to prepare for the possible arrival of H5 bird flu in Australia. The dynamic global situation requires ongoing monitoring and vigilance.
Preparation for this emergency animal disease has been a national focus for many years through activities including the Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy and the National Avian Influenza Wild Bird Surveillance Program.
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.
More information on funded activities can be found at birdflu.gov.au.
HPAI Preparedness Taskforce
A dedicated HPAI Preparedness Taskforce is coordinating government action, including key activities being funded by the Australian Government investment of more than $100 million. The taskforce is jointly led by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), the Department of Health and Aged Care (DoHAC) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
Key taskforce activities
- Delivering Exercise Volare to enhance the nation’s preparations for potential future bird flu outbreaks.
- Working with state and territory governments to coordinate a cross-sectoral emergency response.
- Considering potential impacts of H5 bird flu on Australia's unique fauna, and any additional preparedness and response arrangements that might be warranted.
- Working with the poultry sector and other industries to improve preparedness.
- Continuing to support Wildlife Health Australia to aid early detection of bird flu in wildlife including extending the National Avian Influenza Wild Bird Surveillance Program .
- Working with key public health authorities to guide management of H5 bird flu in humans.
- Working with international governments to learn from their experiences in managing H5 bird flu.
- Uplifting communication and engagement with stakeholders, industry and the general public to strengthen awareness and understanding of Australia’s biosecurity measures and preparedness.
Surveillance in wild birds and poultry
Australian governments and industry conduct surveillance for bird flu in animals to ensure that any potential incursions would be detected early. We work closely with state and territory government agriculture agencies, peak industry bodies and other organisations, to ensure a nationally coordinated approach to disease surveillance and preparedness activities.
Wildlife Health Australia (WHA) manages a National Avian Influenza Wild Bird Surveillance Program that collects and tests samples from healthy wild birds.
Since the program started in 2006, thousands of Australian wild bird samples have been screened. This helps monitor bird flu viruses and provides virus genetic information on newly detected strains.
In 2022, a One Health Surveillance Initiative was established by the Australian Government to protect wildlife and strengthen the capacity of Australia’s biosecurity system to identify and mitigate risks to human, animal and environmental health. This is also being delivered by WHA. As part of this initiative, WHA is administering a One Health Investigation Fund, which bolsters support for multi-sector collaborative field, laboratory and epidemiological investigations into health issues involving wildlife, including wild birds and mammals.
Our Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy program works with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people, communities and Indigenous ranger groups in northern Australia to undertake surveillance and raise awareness of bird flu in northern Australia.
Poultry producers are aware of the importance of good farm biosecurity practices and also have monitoring systems that can quickly detect disease in their flocks, which leads to veterinary investigations.
Australia’s border measures
Our strict biosecurity measures protect against the disease crossing our border in imported birds or poultry products. We use x-ray, inspections and detector dogs at airports, seaports and mail centres to screen incoming goods and passenger luggage.
When entering Australia, you must declare any poultry meat and products, including raw or cooked chicken or duck, fresh or preserved eggs or egg products, feathers, items containing feathers, poultry vaccines, and any other animal products, plant material and food.
Failure to declare these products could result in significant financial penalties.
There is no way to prevent new strains of bird flu viruses entering Australia with wild birds, or transmission between wild birds. However, Australia has well established emergency response plans for bird flu.
Response arrangements in Australia
Australia has nationally agreed response plans and cost-sharing arrangements in place to respond to animal disease incidents and outbreaks, including bird flu.
The AUSVETPLAN Response Strategy for Avian Influenza is part of these arrangements. This plan sets out the nationally agreed approach to bird flu outbreaks in Australia.
The AUSVETPLAN Wild Animal Response Strategy provides information about management strategies and control measures for wild animals during an emergency animal disease incident in Australia.
Guidance on management of disease in wildlife is available from WHA, including the National Guidelines for Management of Disease in Free-ranging Australian Wildlife, and the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and Wild Animals in Australia: A Risk Mitigation Toolbox For Wildlife Managers.
If Australia experiences an outbreak of H5 bird flu, there will be a rapid and coordinated national response led by DAFF, with state and territory governments leading response activities within their borders.
We will keep working closely with other Australian Government departments, state and territory governments, sector partners, communities and businesses to manage an outbreak and provide support to affected industries. Early detection and working together is important.
DAFF will also manage international reporting obligations and work with relevant trading partners to minimise trade disruptions in affected commodities where possible.