H5N1 Avian Influenza Update

H5 bird flu has recently been detected in two wild birds in Western Australia. The situation is developing and WIRES is following official government biosecurity advice.

If you find sick or dead birds or wildlife, do not touch them. Keep children and pets away, record what you see, and report suspected cases to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

Last Updated:

Call the EAD Hotline to report suspected bird flu.

Call WIRES if you have found a sick, injured or orphaned native animal and need rescue advice.

Please do not handle sick or dead birds unless advised. 

Australian Status

H5 bird flu has now been detected in mainland Australia, with the Australian Government confirming detections in two wild bird in Western Australia in June 2026.

The situation is developing and advice may change as surveillance continues. WIRES will continue to follow official government biosecurity advice and update this page as new information becomes available.

Last year, the disease was detected on Heard Island, a remote Australian territory, and in 2026 reports estimate approximately 75% of elephant seal pups on the island, around 13,000 animals, have been killed by the disease.

 

What is H5 bird flu? 

The bird flu strain of greatest concern in Australia is HPAI H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b, which is now usually referred to as H5 Bird flu.

H5 Bird flu is a highly contagious viral disease that primarily affects birds but can infect humans and other animals.

Viruses are not new and some variants of avian influenza have existed in Australia for many years, circulating in a low pathogenic form in some birds and rarely causing disease.

Before June 2026 there were no confirmed cases of H5 Bird flu in mainland Australia.

 

Wildlife Impact

Experts have advised that if H5 bird flu becomes established in wildlife, it may not be possible to be eradicated and will likely become endemic.

Animals that contract H5 Bird flu can become very unwell and may die quickly. There is currently no available treatment for wildlife.

Large scale outbreaks of the H5 Bird strain have killed millions of animals globally, already impacting over 500 species of birds and 80 species of mammals.


Symptoms

Clinical signs can vary between species and individual animals. Any  number of birds may be impacted, and symptoms can include:

  • inability to stand, walk, or fly properly
  • droopy or puffed-up appearance
  • breathing problems (panting, nasal discharge, coughing or sneezing)
  • unusual head or neck posture
  • sudden death (especially in large numbers)
Animals may also appear asymptomatic.

How to avoid spreading the disease:

To avoid the risk of potential disease spread please:

  • Wash your shoes and clothes before and after visiting any national parks, farms or nature reserves.

  • Do not feed native wildlife. Native animals are healthiest when feeding on their natural diet, and avoiding artificial feeding helps reduce unnecessary congregation of birds and the spread of disease.

  • Keep pets away from wildlife, and do not allow pets to touch or eat sick or dead birds.

  • Avoid touching sick or dead birds, their droppings, body fluids, feathers or surrounding environment.

What to do if you find a sick or dead bird?

Stay vigilant. If you see sick or dead birds or other wildlife, please follow these steps:

  • AVOID: keep people and pets away from the impacted area to avoid any contact with sick or dead wildlife and their environment.

  • RECORD: take photos or video only if it is safe to do so and take note of the location where the animals were found.

  • REPORT: call the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888 to report unusual illness or mass mortality events.

If you have found a sick, injured or orphaned native animal and are unsure what to do, call WIRES for rescue advice.

Please do not handle sick or dead birds unless you have been advised it is safe to do so.

 

Can Avian Influenza H5 Bird flu affect humans?

H5 Bird Flu is a zoonotic disease (i.e. can be spread from animals to humans) however the Australian Centre for Disease Control (ACDC) states the risk to people in Australia is currently considered low. There have been no human cases of bird flu caused by influenza A virus subtype H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b in Australia.


The ACDC states that people can become infected if they:

  • breathe in contaminated dust or air

  • touch an infected animal, their body fluids or something contaminated with the virus, and then touch their eyes, nose or mouth.

  • Infection usually happens after close contact with infected poultry – for example, chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese – or contaminated environments.

  • It’s very rare for bird flu to spread from person to person.

  • More information regarding the risk to humans can be found here: 
    https://www.cdc.gov.au/diseases/bird-flu-avian-influenza

What about domestic animals?

The risk to pets is low but not zero. Cats and dogs can be infected, especially by scavenging; so prevent exposure and monitor closely.

H5 bird flu spreads easily and can infect poultry and pet birds through:

  • contact with infected wild birds or feral chickens

     

  • contaminated clothing, shoes, equipment, egg cartons, or vehicles.

     

  • The below steps will help protect domestic birds: 

     

  • Keep enclosures and equipment clean

     

  • Prevent contact between your birds and wild birds

     

  • Keep feed and water clean

     

  • Practice good hygiene

     

  • Limit visitor access

     

  • Quarantine new birds

 

More Resources

Wildlife Health Australia's H5N1 Resource Page

Government Response

 

FAQs

When to call the Emergency Animal Disease (EAD) Hotline?

Call the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888 to report unusual illness or mass mortality events.

For birds that are not in a high-risk species group, call the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline if there are 5 or more dead birds, or 5 or more live birds with signs of H5.

When to call WIRES?

Call WIRES if you have found a sick, injured or orphaned native animal and are unsure what to do.

For an individual bird that is not in a high-risk species group, WIRES can provide rescue advice or arrange the usual rescue process where appropriate.

Please do not handle sick or dead birds unless you have been advised it is safe to do so.

How do I know if an animal has bird flu and what strain it is?

Positive identification of bird flu, and of the strain requires laboratory analysis.

In the current circumstances if birds are found dead or showing changed behaviour follow the instructions about to AVOID, RECORD and REPORT.

How is WIRES involved?

WIRES has worked closely with government and specialist groups such as Wildlife Health Australia and the Taronga Wildlife Health Registry, to understand the biosecurity risks and risks to wildlife.

With outbreaks like this all response is government led, and WIRES will be following the directives of the Government's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). 

The NSW government has advised that the wildlife rehabilitation sector is not expected to play an active operational role during an incursion of H5 bird flu in NSW.

WIRES responsibility at this time is to maintain heightened vigilance, continue risk mitigation planning, support with community awareness, report suspected cases to the EAD, help mitigate potential disease spread by practicing good biosecurity principles, and comply with all government directives regarding the reporting, rescue, or care of affected animals, as well as any restrictions on activities that may be imposed by the government.

 Avian Influenza - 
 H5N1 

H5 bird flu has now been detected in Australia.

WIRES is monitoring official advice and will continue to update this page as the situation develops. 

Heightened Risk and Current Status

Large scale outbreaks of the H5N1 strain have killed millions of animals globally, already impacting over 500 species of birds and 80 species of mammals. H5 bird flu has now been detected in Australia, with the Australian Government confirming the first detection in a wild bird in Western Australia in June 2026.

The government is actively monitoring Australian shores and wildlife, and WIRES is involved in regular meetings with government agencies and organisations such as Wildlife Health Australia, to stay up to date on the biosecurity surveillance underway.

The situation is developing and advice may change as surveillance continues. WIRES will continue to follow official government biosecurity advice and update this page as new information becomes available.

Wildlife Impact

Experts have advised that if H5 bird flu becomes established in wildlife, it may not be possible to eradicate. Animals that contract H5 can become very unwell and may die quickly. There is currently no available treatment for wildlife.

Reducing Risk

To avoid the risk of potential disease spread please:

  • Wash your shoes and clothes before and after visiting any national parks or nature reserves.

  • Do not feed native wildlife, as eating their native diets is best for them and this will prevent groups of birds congregating together unnecessarily.

  • Keep pets away from wildlife, and do not allow pets to touch or eat sick or dead birds.

  • Avoid touching sick or dead birds, their droppings, body fluids, feathers or surrounding environment.

Symptoms

Several, or all birds, in a flock may be impacted and symptoms include a lack of coordination, arched head, paralysis, seizures, tremors, conjunctivitis, nasal secretions, laboured breathing and unusual sudden death.

 

How Can You Help

Stay vigilant. If you see sick or dead birds or other wildlife, please follow these steps:

  • AVOID: keep people and pets away from the impacted area to avoid any contact with sick or dead wildlife and their environment.

  • RECORD: take photos or video only if it is safe to do so, and take note of the location where the animals were found.

  • REPORT: call the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888 to report unusual illness or mass mortality events.

If you have found a sick, injured or orphaned native animal and are unsure what to do, call WIRES for rescue advice.

Please do not handle sick or dead birds unless you have been advised it is safe to do so.

 

More Resources

WIRES Factsheet is available here

Other useful information can be found here:

WHA https://wildlifehealthaustralia.com.au/Resource-Centre/H5-bird-flu

NSW Health: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/Pages/avian-influenza.aspx#:~:text=Avian%20influenza%20(also%20known%20as,in%20birds%20and%20other%20animals.

Government Response: https://www.outbreak.gov.au/current-outbreaks/avian-influenza