As of late June 2024, four cases have been officially confirmed in the state, with authorities monitoring additional reports. While the virus is highly pathogenic in birds, officials maintain that the risk to the general public remains low and there is no evidence of spread to domestic poultry or livestock.
Where have the H5 bird flu cases been found?
The H5 strain of avian influenza was first identified in Australia in June 2024. According to the CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, the virus has been confirmed in multiple migratory seabirds found in Western Australia.
These detections follow an initial case identified in a giant petrel on the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia on June 14. Subsequent findings in Western Australia include:
- Two migratory seabirds confirmed positive on June 20 in the Cape Le Grand area, east of Esperance.
- A third case confirmed in a giant petrel discovered in Quindalup on the south-west coast.
- A fourth confirmed case, with a potential fifth currently undergoing laboratory analysis.
What is the risk to humans and agriculture?
Australia’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Beth Cookson, stated that there is currently no indication that the disease has spread to domesticated animals. "At this stage, there have only been detections in vagrant migratory seabirds that occasionally visit southern Australia," Dr. Cookson noted. "There remains no evidence of any mass mortality events and there are no detections in poultry or in our agricultural production system."
While the H5 virus can be fatal to poultry and cause severe neurological symptoms in various animal species—including seals, cattle, and domestic cats—human infection remains rare. The federal government continues to emphasize that the risk to human health is low.
How are authorities responding to the outbreak?
The Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has launched a surveillance operation following more than 400 reports from the public via the Emergency Animal Disease hotline. Of these, 53 reports were prioritized for formal investigation. Officials have recorded 17 negative results across various regions, including the Perth metropolitan area, the Mid West, and the Great Southern.
Genomic sequencing suggests that the virus infecting these birds is related to an outbreak previously documented on the Heard and McDonald Islands. That specific outbreak was linked to the deaths of approximately 13,000 elephant seal pups in Australian external territories.
What should the public do?
Government health and agricultural agencies advise the public to avoid contact with sick or dead wildlife. If a member of the public encounters a bird or marine mammal displaying signs of illness, they are instructed to:
- Do not handle the animal.
- Record the location and take photos or video if it can be done safely.
- Report the sighting immediately to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline at 1800 675 888.
Biosecurity measures have been heightened across the country. Authorities remain in a state of high alert as they continue to test samples from across Western Australia.