About H5 bird flu

All bird species can get H5 bird flu.

Although any bird species can become infected, bird groups associated with water are highly susceptible. This includes shorebirds, waders such as ibis, waterfowl such as ducks, geese and swans, and seabirds such as seagulls, terns, petrels and penguins.

Species that live in large colonies are particularly suspectable.

Predatory birds and scavenger species are also at risk due to the high likelihood of these species consuming infected animals.

Infected animals experience rapid deterioration in health and can die from the effects of the virus within a matter of hours to days.

Infected birds shed the virus in:

• saliva
• nasal secretions
• faeces.

The virus can spread to domestic birds when wild birds:

• interact with them
• contaminate their food or water.

Since 1976, there have been 13 outbreaks of high pathogenicity bird flu on poultry farms in Australia. These have occurred in Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales and the ACT, including recent H7 outbreaks in 2020, 2024 and 2025

The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), as the lead agency, has established an Incident Management Team (IMT) to coordinate Victoria’s preparedness and response.

The IMT is focused on:

• scenario planning

• communications and public awareness

• stakeholder engagement

• coordination across agriculture, wildlife, health and public land sectors.

The IMT is designed to scale as the situation evolves.

DEECA is working closely with industry, farmers, wildlife carers, First Nations communities and health and partner agencies,  ensuring scalability as the situation evolves.

Victoria is also supporting national efforts to monitor and respond to this significant biosecurity threat.

Victoria’s reporting and surveillance systems are operating as intended, with increased wildlife reports since the Western Australian detection. DEECA is assessing these reports and following up as appropriate.

Updates are being provided as the situation evolves.

H5 bird flu can spread between properties through:

• people
• poultry
• contaminated clothing
• contaminated equipment.

Internationally, H5 bird flu has infected many animals after close contact with infected birds or contaminated environments.

Some predators and scavengers have caught the virus by eating raw infected bird carcases.

For more information visit:

• H5 bird flu information for backyard poultry owners
• Biosecurity for poultry producers
• Report sick or dead wild birds or wildlife

If you suspect H5 bird flu in poultry or other captive birds, you or your vet must report it immediately by calling the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

Refer to:

• Avian influenza for backyard poultry owners
• Backyard Biosecurity – biosecurity measures for small landholders
• Biosecurity basics

H5 bird flu rarely spreads to humans but may occur if there is close contact with infected birds, droppings or heavily contaminated environments. Further information can be found on the Victorian Department of Health website.

The Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action (DEECA) is the Control Agency for managing emergency animal diseases.

DEECA has been working closely with government agencies, land managers, the wildlife welfare sector, Traditional Owners and other relevant organisations to prepare for a potential H5 bird flu detection in Victoria.

There are limited options for responding to the potential impacts of H5 bird flu on wildlife.

Our emergency preparedness activities have included:

• identifying and prioritising at-risk species and developing detailed response plans
• scenario planning to slow the spread of the virus and manage the impacts of the virus on wildlife

• planning for limited public access to landscapes where there are outbreaks, working with the Commonwealth, states and territories to prepare for a potential detection of the highly contagious disease for many months
• establishment of a wildlife-focused Expert Advisory Group to advise on priorities for threatened species.

In addition to the above advice, it is important for land managers to be aware of the following:

• Moving sick or dead birds or wildlife that are infected with H5 bird flu could spread disease and put you and other wildlife at risk.
• Maintaining good biosecurity processes reduces the risk of the disease may spread from wild populations to people and other wildlife.
• You must follow biosecurity practices, to help keep wildlife, people and domestic animals safe.

In addition to the above advice, it is important for wildlife shelters and foster carers to be aware of the following.

• Wildlife shelters should not accept wildlife from members of the public, if the wildlife show signs consistent with H5 bird flu.
• It is important to ensure you comply at all times with your authorisation conditions, including the requirement to quarantine wildlife coming into your care. More information on how to comply with this and other conditions can be found in our Wildlife Rehabilitator Authorisation Guide.
• Moving sick or dead birds or wildlife that are infected with H5 bird flu could spread disease and put you and other wildlife at risk.
• Maintaining good biosecurity processes minimises the likelihood that the disease may spread from wild populations to animals already in care.

Watch out for any signs of bird flu. This includes your poultry, backyard chooks as well as wild birds and sea mammals when you are out and about.

H5 bird flu is a notifiable disease. This means that legally you must tell us if you know of or suspect the presence of H5 bird flu.

You can do this by immediately calling the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

The risk of H5 bird flu spreading to Victoria is continuously increasing as the virus spreads around the world and is now confirmed in Australia.

It’s common to see dead migratory birds like shearwaters on beaches in spring/early summer every year in Victoria. With the increased risk of the virus arriving we need to know about suspect cases quickly, but we want you to remain safe and we do not want you to move the virus.