June 2026 H5 bird flu detection

H5 bird flu has been detected in Australia.

If you notice multiple sick or dead birds or other animals, you should not touch them or get too close. Record your location and report it to the 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

More information is available in the update below.

Find out more

What you can do

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About bird flu

What is bird flu and how does it spread.

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Human health

Staying safe when handling birds.

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Protect your birds

Simple steps you can take to help protect your backyard poultry and other birds.

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Poultry and other farmers

On-farm biosecurity measures for producers.

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Vets

Vets play a critical role in early detection and reporting of bird flu.

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Wildlife

Information for wildlife carers and how the community can help protect Australia's unique wildlife.

Detection of H5 bird flu in Australia

Australia has confirmed its first detection of H5 high pathogenicity avian influenza (H5 bird flu).

This is the serious H5 bird flu strain that has been circulating globally.

There have only been detections in migratory seabirds that occasionally visit southern Australia. 

There are no detections in poultry and no evidence of large-scale deaths in any animals.

The current risk of bird flu to people in Australia is low.  More information can be found at: Australian Centre for Disease Control and Food Standards Australia New Zealand.

Australia is well prepared to respond to H5 bird flu and has well-established national response arrangements in place to respond to animal disease incidents.

What you can do

The community is encouraged to report any dead or sick birds or animals showing  signs of bird flu.

If you see multiple sick or dead birds or other animals, do not touch them.

Avoid contact. Record what you see. Report it to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888 from anywhere in Australia.

What we are doing

Learn about our surveillance programs and how the government has been preparing.

See what we've done to prepare for bird flu

Resources for bird flu

Resources to educate and raise awareness of H5 bird flu.

Download fact sheets and other bird flu resources

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Keep up to date

Whether you keep one chicken or a whole flock, Poultry Post is your go-to newsletter for biosecurity tips, H5 bird flu updates and expert advice to keep your birds safe.

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News

H5 bird flu confirmed in Australia

Testing at CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) has confirmed H5 high pathogenicity avian influenza (bird flu) in a brown skua in Western Australia.

First case of H5 bird flu confirmed in Western Australia

The Cook Labor Government is responding to the confirmed detection overnight of H5 bird flu in a single wild seabird found in the remote Cape Le Grand area, east of Esperance.

Joint media release: Funding to bolster H5 Bird Flu preparedness

The Albanese Labor Government is delivering an additional $11.2 million to further ramp up efforts to prepare our most at-risk native species for a potential outbreak of H5 avian influenza (bird flu).

Reporting bird flu

If you notice multiple sick or dead birds or other animals, you should not touch them or get too close. 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