The first suspected case of a deadly strain of bird flu that has killed millions of birds and mammals worldwide has been found in Australia, the federal government has confirmed.
A wild migratory bird in Western Australia has returned a suspected positive result for avian influenza, which, if confirmed as the H5 strain, would mean the virus had finally spread to every continent on the planet.
The highly pathogenic H5 strain has devastated populations of seabirds, seals and other animals across the world.
Bird flu can also affect mammals and has devastated populations of seals, including on Heard Island. (Supplied: Julie McInnes)
This afternoon, Federal Agricultural Minister Julie Collins said the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development was investigating.
“[The suspected case is] in a single migratory wild bird that was found sick in an isolated area in southern Western Australia,”
she said.
“The initial testing at the Western Australian laboratory has returned a suspected positive result for avian influenza.”
Esperance confirmed as location of find
The brown skua bird was found on a remote beach at the Cape Le Grand National Park near Esperance, about 700 kilometres south-east of Perth.
WA Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis said the bird was isolated after it was found on Sunday and died that night.
“Importantly, this shows that Australia and Western Australia’s preparedness measures have worked,” she said.
Ms Jarvis said preliminary testing by state authorities returned a positive result yesterday, with samples sent overnight to the CSIRO to determine the strain of bird flu.
“A sick giant petrel was also found in the same area. Due to it also being a sub-Antarctic bird, this has also been tested and we are awaiting results,”
Ms Jarvis said.
Ms Jarvis said preparations were in place for a “rapid and coordinated national response” to protect poultry producers and manage impacts on wildlife.
She said she was not aware of who had found the first sick bird, but said a wildlife carer in the area, who had been advised of the bird-flu protocols, advised authorities quickly.
The minister said the bird had been isolated the entire time it was in care.
The minister could not confirm if the bird had come from Heard Island, but said the birds did come from the sub-Antarctic.
Ms Collins said samples had been sent to CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness.
She said the results were expected tomorrow.
“We cannot confirm yet whether it is the strain of concern that is circulating, at this stage, known as the H5 bird flu,” she said.
“There is no evidence of mass mortality at this time, nor is there any evidence of any infection in poultry.”
Ms Collins said Western Australia would coordinate a response, with the national coordination to be led by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Keep ‘safe distance’ from sick birds
The minister asked Australians not to touch sick or dead birds or animals.
“If you see multiple sick or dead birds or other animals. Please take photos or record it from a safe distance,” Ms Collins said.
“Record your location and go to birdflu.gov.au to report it.”
Ms Collins said the bird in question was a migratory wildlife bird but could not say any more.
“I reiterate that it’s not in the poultry system nor is it in the agriculture system, this is a wild migratory bird and one,”
she said.
The bird was found a few days ago, but testing came back late yesterday.
Ms Collins would only say it was in the south-west of Western Australia but could not be any more specific.
Bird flu was detected on the Antarctic Peninsula in 2024. Australia is the last continent without a confirmed case. (Supplied: Meagan Dewar)
She said Australia had been preparing for the H5 strain for some time.
“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.”
The Australian government has called together a meeting of the states and territories and industry experts to discuss the issue.
“Western Australia, as the lead jurisdiction, would increase surveillance with some of the other states and territories if it is confirmed,” Ms Collins said.
Ms Collins said another unwell bird found in the same area was being tested.
‘Critical test of Australia’s preparedness’
The policy director of the Invasive Species Council, Carol Booth, said in a statement on Friday that the possibility avian influenza had made it to the mainland was “deeply concerning given the devastating impacts the virus is having on wildlife around the world”.
“We desperately hope this is not the realisation of our worst dreams,”
Dr Booth said.
“The recently reported mass deaths of elephant seals on Heard Island were a harbinger of the potential catastrophe for Australian wildlife if the virus has made it to mainland Australia.”
Dr Booth said if H5N1 is confirmed the “government’s own risk assessment predicts potentially catastrophic impacts on native birds, while the virus’ increasing ability to infect mammals raises the prospect of severe impacts on marine mammals and other wildlife”.
“It is a good thing governments have spent the past two years preparing for the arrival of bird flu, but a mainland detection would be a critical test of Australia’s preparedness and response systems,” she said.
“Even if this is a false alarm it warns against any complacency. Australia needs to be ready … with clear response plans.
“It also highlights the urgency of mitigating other threats to potentially susceptible wildlife.”
National Farmers Federation chief executive officer Michael Guerin said if the strain is confirmed it would be a stressful time for farmers and communities.
“Cross-species risk means all livestock sectors need to be prepared, and it reinforces why strong biodiversity is critical for Australia,” he said.
“The economic impact is very hard to gauge. We don’t know where it will impact, what the impact will be, and indeed if it can be contained where it is.
“We’re in the hands of the scientists waiting for confirmation as a first step, and then secondly to be guided by the experience of what comes next.”
How H5 bird flu has spread around the world
The H5 strain of bird flu first started to cause mass mortality outbreaks in seabirds in the northern hemisphere in late 2021.
An outbreak in Argentina in 2022 left 96 per cent of southern elephant seal pups dead, with ongoing impacts apparent a year later, when only one third of seals returned to breed.
It was confirmed in Antarctica in mid 2025 and killed tens of thousands of penguins, seals and sea lions.
It was detected on the remote Australian territories of Heard Island and McDonald Islands in October last year.
A report released yesterday found that since then, 13,359 baby seals have been killed out of a population of 17,364.
H5 bird flu has also been detected in domestic pets, including cats and dogs, farm animals, dolphins, foxes and polar bears.
