Update 4: Suspect positive case of H5 bird flu on WA southern coast

Samples from five deceased petrels were submitted to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) laboratory with one returning a suspect positive result for H5 influenza in preliminary testing. The remaining four were all negative.

Samples have been sent to CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness to confirm the results and determine if it is the H5 bird flu strain of concern.

The five deceased petrels were spotted by a member of the public on Roses Beach and reported to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline for investigation and testing by DPIRD.

Results of an earlier suspect positive detection in a giant petrel at Quindalup in the south west of the state are pending.

The number of confirmed WA cases of H5 bird flu remains at two.  

The number of confirmed South Australian cases remains at one.

No detections in poultry in Australia

There continue to be no detections in poultry anywhere in Australia and no impacts on poultry production have been reported.National and state response arrangements remain focused on surveillance, epidemiological assessment and determining the extent of infection in migratory wildlife populations. 

What you can do

The community are encouraged to report sick or dead birds, or marine mammals. If you see sick or dead animals:do not touch them       

• avoid contact    

• record what you see, including photographs if safe to do so   

• report it to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888. 

People should also keep pets away from wildlife, including preventing cats from roaming and keeping dogs on leads in wildlife areas

If you own, care for, or work with birds, maintain good biosecurity practices, including preventing contact between wild birds and poultry, keeping equipment clean, washing hands thoroughly before and after handling birds, and monitoring birds for signs of disease or sudden deaths.

Further information is available at birdflu.gov.au.

Animal Health Australia will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide members with further updates as information becomes available.