H5 bird flu detection – Key Messages
Current as at 15 July 2026
- Australia has 14 confirmed detections of H5 bird flu in wild seabirds: eight in WA, five in SA and one in NSW.
- DPIRD is responding to eight confirmed detections of H5 bird flu. Three near Esperance, one in Quindalup, two near Mullaloo beach, one in Northampton and one in Lancelin.
- All eight detections in WA have been in individual, migratory seabirds.
- There has been a single confirmed detection of H5 bird flu in a native sea bird in South Australia.
- All confirmed detections of H5 bird flu have been tested by CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness.
- These are Australia’s first cases of the highly infectious H5 bird flu that has spread rapidly around the world in recent years.
- There have been no detections in poultry and no evidence of other significant mortalities.
- Bird flu is not a food safety risk for chicken meat and eggs if they are handled and cooked correctly.
- Bird flu is a low risk to people. Transmission requires close contact with infected birds or animals, or contaminated environments.
- Stay up to date with recommended influenza vaccination. The seasonal flu vaccine won’t protect against bird flu but minimises the risk that people become unwell with both seasonal and bird flu viruses at the same time. For more visit Australian Centre for Disease Control.
- WA is well prepared to respond quickly to H5 bird flu to protect our poultry production and reduce impacts on wildlife and communities.
- DPIRD is leading the State response working with DBCA, Department of Health and local government.
- Enhanced surveillance for H5 bird flu is continuing and we are engaging with the community, poultry industry, veterinarians and wildlife carers.
- A national surveillance plan is in operation to monitor for any further detections and facilitate rapid, coordinated response. This includes wildlife mortality monitoring. Some targeted surveillance will also occur for water birds without visible signs of sickness and local non-migratory shorebirds.
The community is asked to assist with surveillance for H5 bird flu.
Anyone who sees sick or dead birds or marine mammals should AVOID and not handle the animals but RECORD and take photos or a video and REPORT to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
There have been over 1400 reports to the WA EAD Hotline since 19 June.
While not every report will result in birds needing to be collected or tested, every report plays an important role in helping understand what is happening in the environment.
People should also take steps to keep pets away from wildlife, including preventing cats from roaming and keeping dogs on leads in wildlife areas.
If you own, care for, or work with birds, you should:
- prevent wild birds from mingling with your birds, and accessing their feed and water
- keep pens, aviaries, feeders and equipment clean
- wash hands thoroughly with soap before and after handling birds
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More information about H5 bird flu is available at birdflu.gov.au
General enquiries about H5 bird flu can be emailed to H5birdflu@dpird.wa.gov.au
Important Disclaimer
The Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and the State of Western Australia accept no liability whatsoever by reason of negligence or otherwise arising from the use or release of this information or any part of it.
Copyright © State of Western Australia (Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development) [2026]
