The Invasive Species Council says the first suspected case of highly pathogenic H5 bird flu in Queensland highlights the urgent need for a $200 million wildlife resilience package to protect native species.
The suspected case in a petrel found on Moreton Island follows 17 confirmed H5N1 detections in Western Australia, South Australia and New South Wales over recent weeks, with authorities undertaking confirmatory testing.
‘Bird flu has now reached Queensland’s coastline, and that should concern every Australian who cares about our wildlife. We can’t stop this virus, but we can boost the capacity of wildlife to survive and recover from outbreaks,’ Invasive Species Council Policy Director Dr Carol Booth said.
‘Australia has invested heavily in surveillance and early detection, and that preparation is working. But finding cases is only the first step. Once this disease reaches vulnerable wildlife populations, surveillance won’t prevent the devastating impacts we’ve seen overseas.
‘Seeing bird flu reach Queensland is heartbreaking because we know what’s happened overseas. Millions of wild birds and marine mammals have died, and unless we do everything we can to strengthen the resilience of at-risk populations, there’s every reason to fear Australia could face similar losses.
‘We are urgently calling on the Albanese Government to invest $200 million in a wildlife resilience package that would reduce the other pressures pushing vulnerable species towards extinction – for example, by accelerating feral cat and fox control, restoring habitat, protecting important breeding sites and expanding threatened species recovery programs.
‘These are practical, no-regrets investments that will help wildlife withstand bird flu while also making Australia better prepared for future disease outbreaks and other environmental threats.
‘We also urge Queenslanders to remain vigilant. If you find sick or dead birds or marine mammals, don’t touch them. Record the location if it is safe to do so and report it immediately through the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline. Early reporting is one of the most important ways the public can help.’
Dr Booth said there remained no evidence the virus had spread to Australian poultry flocks. Overseas experience showed H5N1 could have devastating consequences for wild birds and marine mammals if it became established.
The Invasive Species Council will continue working with governments, scientists and conservation organisations to ensure Australia is as prepared as possible for the impacts of H5N1 on native wildlife.
Media enquiries: (02) 8006 5004
Images of seals and sea birds available here.
Background:
What to look out for
- The public should avoid, record and report any unusual bird deaths immediately by calling the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
- Wildlife Health Australia have produced detailed advice for people who encounter sick or dead wild birds.
- Look for:
- Small groups of sick or dead wild birds of any species.
- Individual or less than 5 sick or dead wild seabirds, waterbirds, shorebirds or birds of prey (e.g. eagles, hawks)
- Infected live birds may show a wide range of signs if they are sick, including:
- lack of coordination, tremors, swimming in circles
- twisted necks or other unusual posture
- 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.
Australian H5N1 bird flu risk assessment:
- The Australian Government commissioned a risk assessment of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) which was released in July 2023.
- The assessment found that the risk of ‘HPAI virus exposure and establishment in resident wild birds’ is ‘moderate/high’ and that the impact of this would be ‘catastrophic’, leading to an overall risk of ‘high’.
- Some key findings from this assessment include:
- Extrapolating from global outbreaks of HPAI H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b, there are likely to be significant consequences associated with incursion and establishment of HPAI in Australia via wild birds given a moderate likelihood of incursions.
- The frequency of HPAI incursions into Australia via wild birds may be significantly lower compared with other continents and as a result, containment of outbreaks may be more achievable in the Australian context if they are identified early.
- Consequences to wild birds are assessed as CATASTROPHIC with moderate uncertainty, consequences to poultry are assessed as HIGH with moderate uncertainty and consequences to wild mammals are assessed as MINOR with moderate uncertainty.
- In multiple outbreaks the scale of mortality has been extremely high, often involving deaths of 100s, 1,000s or 10,000s of individuals with significant proportions of birds, resulting in mortality globally estimated to be in the millions.
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