Frequently Asked Questions

All commercial, domestic, and wild bird species can be infected by bird flu. There are many subtypes or strains of AI. Strains known as low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI), can cause a range of symptoms from none to mild flu-like symptoms in wild birds, and mild symptoms in domestic poultry.

​Strains known as high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) are very contagious and deadly, causing severe disease and death in both wild and domestic birds. Since 2020, a new strain of HPAI, H5N1 clade H5 2.3.4.4b, emerged and has spread throughout most of the world, resulting in significant disease and deaths in wild birds, as well as some marine mammals.

​​Why is an outbreak of H5 bird flu serious in Australia?

H5 bird flu is highly contagious, and an outbreak of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) strain could cause severe disease and massive deaths in bird populations. The international HPAI strain H5N1 has caused serious and repeated disease events in domestic poultry, wild birds, and some mammals. These events have resulted in significant economic losses for poultry producers and consumers, as well as serious environmental impacts to wild bird populations, including rare and threatened animal species. 

​H5 bird flu does pose a human health risk. On rare occasions the virus can be transmitted to humans that are handling HPAI infected birds. 

​​​How is H5 bird flu spread?

The most common way that bird fluspreads is through direct bird-to-bird contact. The virus is present in bird secretions including faeces, nasal and eye discharge, and blood. Susceptible birds become infected when they come in contact with infected birds or infected bird secretions. 

​H5 bird flu can also be spread through indirect contact when uninfected birds are exposed to virus-contaminated materials. Susceptible birds are infected by drinking water or eating foods contaminated by the secretions of infected birds. The disease can also spread through contact with infected animal bedding, egg crates, and other contaminated farm equipment. 

People can also spread the disease to different bird populations, by wearing contaminated footwear or clothing, or using contaminated farm equipment around susceptible birds. 

Preventing susceptible birds from having contact with infected birds, or viral contaminated materials, is very important for preventing transmission of H5 bird flu. This can be achieved by preventing wild birds from contacting domestic birds’ water and food sources.  

​Am I at risk of catching H5 bird flu from my pet bird?

It is highly unlikely that your pet bird will become infected with avian influenza and even less likely that it would be transmitted to you or other humans through normal contact. 

The transmission of this virus from birds to humans would be a rare event. For humans to be infected they must have close contact with an infected bird or its nose/eye fluid and droppings.

Bird owners should always maintain good standards of hygiene when handling their birds. You should routinely wash your hands thoroughly with soap after handling birds, and wear gloves if handling birds that are sick or dead. These are effective measures against many diseases, including avian influenza. ​

​Is H5 bird flu ​​I present in Australia?

High pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) strain H5N1 clade H5 2.3.4.4b, is currently present in Australia.

The virus can be introduced through migrating wild birds. The virus can also emerge through the mutation of one of the many low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) strains currently in circulation. LPAI viruses are regularly detected in wild birds in Australia. These are generally harmless and are present worldwide wherever wild waterfowl (ducks, geese, and swans) reside. HPAI can emerge from a mutation of LPAI, and this type of outbreak does occur sporadically in Australia, requiring rapid emergency responses by government and industry. For this reason, commercial poultry producers must keep wild birds out of their sheds and bird enclosures, to prevent contamination of feed and water, and minimize direct bird-to-bird contact between domestic and wild birds. 

​Surveillance for AI among both wild and domestic birds, is continually performed in Australia and Tasmania, to ensure risk assessments are up to date. For the latest information on any current outbreaks of bird flu in Australia visit the Australian Government’s website: National pest and disease outbreaks.

How clos​e is H5 bird flu to Australia?

​​​Australia has confirmed its first detections of H5 bird flu.For updates to confirmed cases nationally visit the Australian Government Website​. 

H5 bird flu has not been detected in Tasmania.​​

​For the latest information on any current outbreaks of H5 bird flu in Australia visit the Australian Government’s website National pest & disease outbreaks.

How would A​ustralia cope with an outbreak of H5 bird flu in poultry?

Australia is well prepared to deal with a case of H5 bird flu in domestic poultry. Early detection, good surveillance, and rapid response have enabled every outbreak of H5 bird flu in Australia to be quickly controlled and eradicated. No people have become sick during any of these outbreaks.

Planning, preparedness, and response procedures for H5 bird flu continue to be refined and improved at both national and state levels. If HPAI were detected in Australia, the disease would be controlled through a nationally agreed policy, which may include interventions such as farm quarantine, animal euthanasia, and enhanced biosecurity requirements. Australia's eradication plans include personal protection and treatment measures to protect people working on infected properties and other people at risk of infection with the virus.

​The recent global circulation of H5 bird flu viruses poses unprecedented risks for vulnerable wildlife species. Animal, human, and environmental health authorities in Australia and Tasmania are preparing to respond to an outbreak of HPAI that causes severe disease in wildlife.​

​​What can the broader community do to help reduce the risk of H5 bird flu?

It's important that overseas visitors and residents returning to Australia do not bring potentially infected material into the country.

Potentially infected material includes any items which contain bird meat or bird by-products including bird feathers, skins, eggs, bedding or nesting materials. Biosecurity Australia officers are on high alert as part of the national effort to prevent AI from entering Australia and they will inspect for bird and bird-related products.

​For more information on biosecurity restrictions for international travellers, importers and exporters, please visit the Australian Government's website: Biosecurity in Australia.

Do​es NRE Tas do any H5 bird flu surveillance in wild birds?

Surveillance to detect any H5 bird flu virus in wild birds is an important part of rapid detection and prevention. The Commonwealth Government funds state surveillance, which includes collecting swabs from ducks that are shot during the duck season or shot/trapped at any time for crop protection.

​Members of the public should report wild bird mortality events to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline (toll-free) on 1800 675 888.

For non-urgent inquiries the public can contact Biosecurity Tasmania on 03 6165 3777, or email AnimalDisease.Enquiries@nre.tas.gov.au

​Can anything be done to stop the spread of H5 bird flu in wild birds?

Wild waterfowl are known to be the natural reservoir of AI viruses. ​The World Health Organisation, the Food and Agricu​lture ​Organisation of the United Nations, and the World Organisation for Ani​mal Healt​h (WOAH) have come to the consensus that control of AI infection in wild bird populations is not feasible and should not be attempted.

​​What is the risk of other animals being infected by H5 bird flu virus?

There is worldwide evidence that the H5 bird flu virus can infect a range of non-human mammals including pigs, cats, mink, seals, and whales. This list is expected to change over time as the virus adapts to other animals.

​A small number of cats including both domestic cats and larger cats in zoos, have been infected with AI virus after exposure to infected birds. In some countries affected by AI, cat owners are advised to ensure that contact between cats and wild birds or poultry is avoided.​​

Can wildlife rehabilitators provide treatment for H5 bird flu?

There is no effective treatment for the H5 strain of bird flu that wildlife rehabilitators can provide to infected birds or mammals.  

Can wildlife rescuers catch H5 bird flu from wild birds that we rescue?

Information on the risks of bird flu to humans can be found on the Department of Health​ Bird Flu webpage.

Can mammals be infected with H5 bird flu?

Mammals can be infected with bird flu. In parts of the world where the current strain of concern has already been found, bird flu has caused illness and deaths in mammals, particularly those that may consume or have contact with birds, for example scavenging or predatory species and marine mammals.

Domestic mammals such as cats and dogs are also susceptible, and care should be taken to keep them away from dead or sick birds. If there’s an outbreak of bird flu, pets can be protected by keeping cats indoors and dogs on lead or in control and close by when walking in areas where there is also wildlife.

Will H5 bird flu affect reptiles in Tasmania? 

During the current outbreak around the world, no reptiles have been reported to be affected.

Is any monitoring of wild populations currently being undertaken?

NRE Tas is part of the National Avian Influenza Wild Bird Surveillance Program and contributes samples from waterfowl looking at background influenza viruses around the state. Extended national sampling over the past couple of years has also included shorebirds on King Island. NRE Tas routinely submits suspect clusters of sick or dead birds to the Animal Health Laboratory for exclusion of bird flu.  

Are there any wildlife management strategies for H5 bird flu? 

There is no way to prevent entry of bird flu to Tasmania and its spread by free-ranging wild birds, however work is under way to increase chances of early detection and preparation to respond in the case of an outbreak.

Based on the experience with H5 bird flu overseas, there are few management and mitigation strategies that can reduce mortality rates in wild animals, as we cannot stop them moving around and interacting with each other. 

NRE Tas has developed a Readiness and Response Plan which outlines what to expect during a bird flu outbreak and how we are prepared​

 Tasmanian Avian Influenza Readiness and Response Plan (PDF 786Kb)

​

What proportion of an infected wildlife population will die from bird flu?

All birds are considered susceptible. Overseas, waterfowl, shorebirds, seabirds and predatory or scavenging birds and mammals have been most significantly impacted. It is not known how this strain of bird flu will affect Australian species.

Are bird flu vaccines available for wildlife?

Australia is working with regulators, researchers and manufacturers on vaccine options and emergency-use arrangements. Availability, safety and suitability differ between species, so any vaccine would be used only where the evidence and regulatory requirements support it. 

There is currently one vaccine available for emergency use in native wild birds.

Broadscale vaccination of wild birds and other wildlife is not practical. Governments are considering carefully targeted vaccination of selected captive or managed populations of high-priority threatened bird species, supported by scientific evidence, vaccine safety data and strong biosecurity. 

Our Orange Bellied Parrot captive bred population in Hobart is currently participating in a trial.

We are also closely monitoring international research and emerging evidence for vaccinating native mammals however there are currently no commercially available H5 bird flu vaccines authorised for use in mammal species in Australia. This means that there is no vaccine for seals, dolphins, Tasmanian Devils and Quolls as an example.

Are bird flu vaccines available for Po​ultry?

​In the case of poultry, vaccination is not part of Australia’s current first-line response, which is based on rapid detection, containment and eradication. 

Infected poultry flocks, even if vaccinated, would still need to be depopulated with the aim of eradication to prevent further spread of bird flu. This would include backyard chickens.

More​​ information