A giant petrel discovered near Hawks Nest, north of Newcastle on the New South Wales coast, has tested positive for H5 bird flu in a suspected case that, if confirmed as the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain, would mark the first detection of the deadly virus on Australia's east coast.
Initial testing at NSW laboratories indicated the presence of H5 influenza, but further analysis by the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness is required to determine if it is the H5N1 strain that has devastated wildlife populations globally.
Previous cases in Western Australia and South Australia
Since late June, five cases of highly pathogenic H5N1 have been confirmed in Australia: four in Western Australia and one in South Australia, all in migratory subantarctic birds. The Western Australian government reported a fifth suspected case on Friday—a dead giant petrel found at Mullaloo in Perth's northern suburbs—prompting increased surveillance at metropolitan beaches.
NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty stated that the disease has not yet been detected in poultry flocks, captive birds, or other wild birds in NSW. The petrel was found unwell by a member of the public who contacted authorities.
Government response and surveillance
“This latest development is incredibly concerning for both agriculture and for wildlife,” Moriarty said. “The impact of H5 worldwide on wild birds and poultry has been devastating. But NSW and the rest of the country have been preparing for this moment for many years.”
The NSW government has had surveillance measures in place since the virus appeared elsewhere in Australia. A state coordination centre at the Department of Primary Industry and Regional Development in Orange is managing operations. More than 500 people in government and private veterinary services have been trained in surveillance, including fisheries officers, national parks staff, and agriculture personnel.
Risk to wildlife and public advice
NSW Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Jo Coombe said, “This is an isolated case at this stage. It doesn’t mean it’s going to be the last case, but at this point there is no evidence of spread to any wild birds.” Symptoms of H5 bird flu include lethargy, respiratory signs such as watery eyes or difficulty breathing, and paralysis or difficulty walking.
Authorities urge the public to avoid contact with sick or dead birds, record the location, and report it to the emergency hotline.
Funding calls and federal coordination
The Invasive Species Council renewed its call for an urgent $200 million in federal funding for conservation measures to support the bird flu response by reducing other threats to wild species. Policy director Carol Booth said, “The best defence we have is to make Australia's wildlife as resilient as possible before widespread outbreaks occur. That means rebuilding healthy populations that are better able to withstand disease and recover afterwards.”
Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins chaired a meeting of agriculture ministers on Friday to discuss the ongoing response. She thanked the public for reporting unwell and dead birds, noting that early detection was “an incredible testament to the Australian public.” Collins reiterated that there have been no detections in poultry so far and that the government continues to work with the poultry and egg industries to mitigate incursions.
