Guidelines for managing dead birds and wildlife on public land in an H5 bird flu outbreak

How H5 bird flu is different from other strains

H5 bird flu:

• spreads more easily than other bird flu strains
• can kill large numbers of wild birds
• has no effective treatment
• usually leads to poor outcomes for infected birds and mammals.

H5 bird flu is highly infectious and can be spread by the movement of birds, people and equipment. To help stop the spread, land managers must follow biosecurity rules. These include steps for safely disposing of dead birds.

Signs and symptoms in wild birds

The most important sign to be aware of is sudden death. Other signs of H5 bird flu in wild birds are:

• ruffled feathers, depression, closed eyes
• inability to stand or fly
• diarrhoea difficulty breathing, coughing or sneezing
• swelling around the head, neck and eyes
• cloudiness or change in colour of the eyes
• lack of coordination, tremors, swimming in circles
• twisted necks or other unusual posture.

H5 bird flu should be considered if a high number of a flock or group of birds become ill very quickly – progressing from normal to severe illness or death within 24 to 48 hours.

You may not know if the birds have H5 bird flu; however, you should treat them as though they do, in line with the advice below.

Report sick or dead wildlife

Report sick or dead wildlife by calling the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888 or by using the online reporting form.

Report clusters (5 or more) of sick or dead wild birds of any species, anywhere in Victoria.

Report even one sick or dead:

• penguin or pelican
• bird of prey (e.g. hawk, owl, eagle)
• black swan
• marine mammal (e.g. seal, sea lion, dolphin).

Know the risks of H5 bird flu for humans

Bird flu viruses rarely spread to people, but it can happen through close contact with infected animals (alive or dead) or, less commonly, places they have contaminated.

• In recent reports, most human infections have been mild, but in some cases people have become very sick and have died.
• To date, there have been no reports of human-to-human spread of H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b.

The Department of Health advises that good occupational health and safety practices should be observed to minimise the risk of transmission.

Where to find more information

Visit these resources for detailed safety advice:

• Department of Health website
• CDNA national guidelines for avian influenza – protecting people who work with birds and wildlife
• WOAH avian influenza and wildlife risk management

Control orders during an H5 bird flu outbreak

What control orders do

If H5 bird flu is found in Victoria, Agriculture Victoria may declare specific areas are under control or restricted access through a control order. These orders help stop the disease from spreading.

Control orders may include:

• infected area – where the disease has been found
• control area – surrounding the infected area
• restricted area – where extra rules apply

Some infected places may also be placed under a quarantine notice.

What you need to do

If your region is under a control order or movement restriction:

• follow all instructions from Agriculture Victoria
• check if your area is affected by visiting the Agriculture Victoria website or VicEmergency.

These rules help protect wildlife, people and the environment.

Managing dead wild birds on public land

If you find fewer than 5 dead wild birds, do one of the following:

• Leave them to decompose naturally where possible.
• Where it is not possible to leave them to decompose naturally, use the existing general waste collection service such as the general waste bins.

However, even a single dead bird of the following species should be reported to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888:

• Penguin or pelican
• Bird of prey (e.g. hawk, owl, eagle)
• Black swan

Call takers will then advise what action should be taken.

Check for control orders

Before taking action:

• visit the Agriculture Victoria avian influenza page
• check if your area has any control orders in place.

If control orders apply, follow all instructions from Agriculture Victoria.

Use safe practices

Even if there are no control orders, you must make sure the area is safe for the public and follow any instructions provided through the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline.

If you must dispose of the dead wildlife, use safe practices. To protect yourself and stop the disease from spreading when collecting dead birds, follow these steps:

• Limit access to the area where the dead wildlife is located and keep domestic animals, children and other people away.
• Don’t touch dead birds with your bare hands.
• Wear safety gear: a face mask (P2/N95 is best, but a surgical mask is okay if you don’t have one), glasses or goggles, long sleeves, gloves (disposable or washable) and shoes you can clean.
• Put the wild bird in 2 plastic bags:
• Use tongs or a shovel, or turn a plastic bag inside out to pick up the bird.
• Tie the first bag shut, then put it inside a second leak-proof bag.
• Take off your gloves and put them in the second bag.
• Tie the second bag and throw it in the regular waste bin.
• Wash your clothes and clean any tools or equipment that touched the bird.
  • Clean shoes, reusable equipment (including eye protection) and any contaminated items with detergent and water to remove all visible material.
  • Disinfect these items and let them dry completely, taking care to follow the manufacturer’s instructions including required contact time with cleaning or disinfecting agents.
  • Wash clothes in a washing machine with laundry detergent on the hottest cycle appropriate for the material.
  • If you cannot clean and disinfect reusable items immediately, seal them in a plastic bag until you can.
• Wash your hands well with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub before and after handling dead wild birds.

Practise good hygiene principles when wearing PPE:

• Avoid touching your mouth, eyes, and nose.
• Cover any cuts or grazes with a water-resistant dressing under PPE (i.e. band-aid).
• Do not eat or drink whilst wearing PPE.
• Ensure PPE is removed safely and in the correct sequence.
• Thoroughly wash hands and face after removing PPE and shower at the end of the shift before handling other animals.

Further details about how to clean and disinfect equipment and clothing are available at: Information for farm visitors.

Moving dead birds safely

Use sealed vehicles and vessels

To help stop the spread of H5 bird flu:

• use vehicles or vessels that can be sealed and covered
• double bag the birds following the safety advice in these guidelines.

Normal general waste vehicles can be used.

These steps help reduce the risk of spreading disease to wildlife and poultry farms.

What to do if you feel unwell after disposing of dead birds or wildlife

Bird flu infections in people are rare but can happen if a person has had close contact with an infected animal or contaminated environment.

Monitor for symptoms for 10 days after contact with dead wildlife or their contaminated environment.

If you are infected, you might not show any symptoms, or you might get one or more symptoms such as:

• fever
• cough
• sore throat
• runny or blocked nose
• red, sore eyes or conjunctivitis
• muscle or body aches
• fatigue
• shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• pneumonia.

Less common signs and symptoms can include:

• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhoea
• seizures.

If you feel unwell with any of the above symptoms after having close contact with dead wildlife, you should:

• call your doctor and tell them that you have been around dead wildlife that were potentially infected with H5 bird flu
• stay home while you are unwell.
• wear a mask to protect others.
• stay away from other people as much as possible. If you can’t stay away from others, wearing a mask is even more important.
• cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue and dispose of used tissues in the bin straight away (then wash your hands).
• wash your hands with soap and water often, especially after coughing or sneezing.

For more information, you can visit the Department of Health, Disability and Aging – Bird Flu

Protect other animals

After you have disposed of the dead wildlife, you should remove and wash clothing, clean and disinfect shoes and other contaminated items, and wash your hands with soap BEFORE interacting with other people, poultry, kept birds or pets such as birds, cats or dogs. You may also want to take a shower.

If you wish to take extra precautionary steps, you could avoid close contact with kept birds and poultry for 48 hours after handling dead wildlife that might have H5 bird flu.

Managing large numbers of dead wild birds on public land

If there are many dead wild birds and you cannot manage them through normal waste services:

• call the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888
• follow advice from DEECA and Agriculture Victoria.

If the birds died from H5 bird flu or pose a risk to public health, DEECA may ask land managers to remove and dispose of the birds as part of the outbreak response,

If the birds did not die from H5 bird flu or there is low risk to public health, land managers must manage the birds using their usual practices.

This includes:

• wearing personal protective equipment (PPE)
• disposing of birds at a landfill that accepts putrescible waste.

Dead wild birds do not need to go to a landfill that accepts quarantine or biosecurity waste (T340). They are not considered biosecurity waste.

It remains an offence under the Wildlife Act 1975 to interfere with native wildlife, even when dead. Land managers should leave wildlife in situ to decompose naturally where possible.

Managing other dead wildlife (mammals) on public land

H5 bird flu mostly affects wild birds, but some mammals can also get sick from it. Dead mammals may carry diseases that can make people sick, including avian influenza.

What to do with small numbers of dead land mammals

If there are fewer than 5 dead wild land mammals and no control orders are in place, do one of the following:

• Leave them to decompose naturally.
• Dispose of them using your organisation’s usual waste service.

Note: Larger animals may need special arrangements with your waste provider.

When to report dead mammals

You must report:

• even one dead marine mammal (like a seal, sea lion or dolphin)
• large numbers of dead land mammals.

Call the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888 for advice.

Restricting access to public land

When restrictions apply

If control orders are in place, such as infected area or quarantine area declarations, you must follow all restrictions.

The decision to close or restrict access to land under a control order will be made by the incident controller and the Chief Veterinary Officer.

Managing public safety and amenity

Land managers may choose to restrict access to protect public safety or amenity.

For small areas with dead birds or wildlife, you can cordon off the site following your organisation’s policies.

For larger areas, including roads:

• consult with DEECA as part of the H5 bird flu response
• also speak with VicRoads or other relevant authorities.

Traditional Owner engagement in a H5 bird flu response

Our commitment

DEECA supports self-determination and works in partnership with Traditional Owners. This includes:

• early and genuine engagement
• involving Traditional Owners in decision-making.

Cultural significance of wildlife

Many birds and animals are culturally important to Traditional Owners. Each group has:

• spiritual connections with different species
• unique cultural protocols and responsibilities.

Some Traditional Owner groups also have their own emergency management protocols. These must be followed based on the location and group involved.

When to contact for advice

If you plan to remove large numbers of dead wild birds or wildlife call the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

DEECA will:

• notify the relevant Traditional Owner Corporation if needed
• work with you to ensure cultural protocols are respected.

When collecting and disposing of dead wild birds, people should protect themselves and minimise the risk of spreading the disease to new environments by following the guidelines on this page.

Further information

• Avian influenza (bird flu)
• Avian influenza information for veterinarians
• Informing Emergency Animal Diseases (EAD) responses by Animal Health Australia

Resources

• Guidelines for managing wildlife infected with H5 bird flu on public land – full version [PDF File - 265.1 KB]
• Guidelines for managing wildlife infected with H5 bird flu on public land – accessible version [MS Word Document - 621.4 KB]
• Downloadable signage for public land (PDF) [PDF File - 277.1 KB]