H5 bird flu in Australia: 724 outbreaks in wildlife in four months and none on farms — how the country is protecting poultry and agricultural shows

What's happening in Australia

Until 2026, Australia and Oceania were the last inhabited parts of the world that the current H5 high pathogenicity bird flu hadn't reached. In June 2026 the virus finally appeared on the mainland, and since then it has been spreading among wildlife along the southern coast.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), as at 4 pm Australian Eastern time on 27 October 2026, 724 outbreaks of H5 bird flu in wildlife had been confirmed in the country. Over the same period the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline received 70,231 reports. An outbreak is a case that may involve one or more animals; the department has counted this way since 12 August, when there were too many detections to report each bird individually.

Where the virus has been found

South Australia has the most outbreaks, 336, followed by Victoria with 247. Next come New South Wales (75), Tasmania together with sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island (53), Western Australia (10), Queensland (2) and the Jervis Bay Territory (1).

The first detections were in the south and west, mostly in seabirds — crested terns, cormorants, gulls and skuas. In August the virus was confirmed in Tasmania for the first time, in September in the Jervis Bay Territory, and on 16 October on Macquarie Island, in an elephant seal and a kelp gull.

How the virus reached Australia

Scientists had long expected the virus to arrive. Since the early 2020s, H5N1 has spread across almost the whole world: Europe, Asia, Africa, both Americas and even Antarctica. For a long time Australia was protected by its isolation: most migratory birds that arrive on the continent come from Asia along routes where this virus has been less common. The danger came from the south — with seabirds from sub-Antarctic waters and coasts where the virus had already caused mass deaths.

That's why Australia's first detections weren't in ducks and geese, as in Europe, but in seabirds on the southern coast — terns, skuas and gulls. Seabirds nest in dense colonies, where the virus spreads especially quickly.

Infections in mammals

This year's biggest warning sign is infection in mammals. On 23 August the virus was found in a mammal in Australia for the first time — a long-nosed fur seal on the South Australian coast. On 28 August it was found in a red fox in suburban Adelaide, the first case in a land mammal. In October the virus was confirmed in an elephant seal on Macquarie Island.

This detection in a fox is a good reminder that people and their pets should avoid sick or dead wildlife.

Dr Beth Cookson, Australia's Chief Veterinary Officer

The Chief Veterinary Officer stresses that there's no evidence of mammal-to-mammal transmission in Australia. The department believes foxes and other predators become infected by eating the carcasses of sick birds. The risk to human health remains low.

No virus on farms

The most important point for Australian agriculture: according to DAFF, H5 bird flu still hasn't been detected in poultry or in the country's agricultural production system. New South Wales specifically stresses that the virus hasn't been found in commercial poultry flocks or in captive birds.

That doesn't mean there's no risk: the more virus there is in wild birds, the greater the chance that one day it will reach a farm. The Australian authorities have stepped up surveillance and set up rapid response teams, and New South Wales has a State Coordination Centre in the town of Orange. The department also warns that free-range labelling of eggs and meat may change if birds have to be housed for biosecurity reasons.

Agricultural shows and poultry

On 22 October the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development explained how it's helping agricultural shows — traditional country fairs where livestock, poultry, produce and home preserves are exhibited. More than 180 are held in the state each year, attended by more than a million people. Poultry sections are an important part of many shows — and also a place where birds from different flocks come together.

The department is working with AgShows NSW and the Country Women's Association, providing training, event plans, posters, fact sheets and advice on running poultry exhibits, reporting disease concerns and responding to wildlife deaths.

Agricultural shows are an important part of regional life. That's why we've been working closely with show societies so they have up-to-date information and can decide for themselves how best to keep poultry producers and communities safe.

Dr Jo Coombe, Chief Veterinary Officer of New South Wales

AgShows NSW President Jody Nelson-Gleeson said the department's prompt advice, a dedicated webinar and practical resources had given organisers clear guidance and confidence.

"Avoid. Record. Report."

The key rule for all Australians is the national message "Avoid. Record. Report.":

1. Avoid direct contact with sick and dead birds and other wildlife.
2. Record what you see: the location, the time, how many animals and, if possible, a photo from a safe distance.
3. Report it to the 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease Hotline or via the online form.

Why there are so many hotline reports

70,231 reports doesn't mean 70,000 cases of bird flu. Most calls concern birds that died of other causes — starvation, storms, injuries or other diseases. But it's exactly these reports that allow vets to find the real outbreaks quickly. The department explains that as the virus spreads, it's no longer necessary to test every animal in areas where the virus is known to be present — the focus shifts to new places and new species. That's why every report from an area where the virus hasn't yet been found is especially valuable.

What cat and dog owners need to know

The Australian department specifically reminds pet owners that the virus can infect more than just birds. Dogs on the coast and in parks should be kept on a lead so they don't pick up dead birds or go near the carcasses of marine animals on the beach. Cats are best kept from hunting birds, and raw poultry shouldn't be fed during the outbreak season. If your pet has had contact with a dead bird or animal and then falls ill, tell your vet about the contact straight away.

What backyard chicken keepers need to know

Many Australians keep chickens in their back gardens. They're given the same advice as European keepers: feed and water birds under cover, close runs off from wild birds, keep domestic ducks away from ponds used by wild ones, change footwear before entering the hen house and report sudden deaths immediately. Australia even publishes a separate biosecurity newsletter for these keepers, Poultry Post.

What this means for Europe and the UK

This virus has been present in Europe for several years, and European farms lose millions of birds to it every year. Australia is now going through what Europe went through in the early 2020s: the virus is entering wildlife and starting to infect new species. But Australia has something Europe didn't have — a plan prepared in advance, a single system for recording outbreaks and a national public campaign before the virus arrived.

Australia's experience is of interest to Europe in two ways. First, surveillance of wild mammals — fur seals, seals, foxes: such cases occur in Europe too, and it's important not to miss it if the virus starts to pass between mammals. Second, work with the public — with chicken keepers, show organisers and dog walkers. The simple rule "avoid, record, report" works just as well on European and British coasts, where dead birds are also found in autumn and winter. In Great Britain, dead wild birds should be reported to the Defra helpline.

What happens next

Spring in the southern hemisphere is the nesting season for seabirds. Colonies become denser, and the virus may spread faster. So the Australian authorities expect new outbreaks in the coming months and are continuing surveillance. The main task is to keep the virus off poultry farms. The department publishes data on new outbreaks daily. The agricultural show season in New South Wales continues, and the department has promised to support organisers, exhibitors and local communities throughout, with new advice as the situation changes.

When to see a vet

If your cat or dog has had contact with a dead bird or wild animal carcass and then becomes lethargic, develops a fever, a cough, breathing difficulties, wobbliness or seizures, see a vet and be sure to mention the contact. If chickens, ducks or other birds in your flock suddenly die or fall ill, report it to your vet or the animal health authority straight away.