H5 bird flu

H5 bird flu, also known as high pathogenicity avian influenza H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b, is a strain of the avian influenza virus. The virus has been spreading globally since 2021 through the movement of wild birds, with unprecedented impact. H5 bird flu can also affect other animals, and millions of wild animals worldwide have now died due to the virus.

H5 bird flu has not been detected in Australia. However, H5 bird flu may arrive in Australia via wild bird movements year-round, with the annual Spring (August – November) migration of wild shorebirds from the northern hemisphere being the most likely way for H5 bird flu to arrive here.

This page contains information and resources for H5 bird flu.

If you suspect a wild animal may be infected with H5 bird flu

AVOID contact with sick or dead wildlife and their environment. Observe from a distance and keep pets away.

RECORD what you see, the location the animal was found, and take photos or video if it is safe to do so.

REPORT any unusual sickness or mass mortality events in wildlife via the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

Avian influenza is a nationally notifiable disease meaning, if you suspect an animal is showing signs of the disease, you must report it.

Reporting will alert authorities so they can evaluate the need for testing or other investigation. Even if testing is not undertaken, all reports help inform our understanding of the disease and how to manage it.

H5 bird flu FAQs

For answers about H5 bird flu and the risk to Australian wildlife, read our FAQs.

For more for information on bird flu, see the technical resources below.

What to do if you encounter sick or dead wildlife

Avoid contact with sick or dead wildlife and their environment, record what you see and report to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

Read more details here.

H5 bird flu and working with wild animals

Toolkits and information to understand and prepare for H5 bird flu if you work with wild birds and animals.

Animal health professionals and wildlife care providers

Animal health professionals and wildlife care providers

- WHA H5 bird flu advice for veterinarians and other animal health professionals.

- The WHA HPAI risk mitigation toolbox for wildlife care providers is a guidance document focussing on prevention and preparedness for H5 bird flu. It is targeted to those who provide care to wildlife in Australia, such as wildlife hospitals, rehabilitation centres, individual rehabilitators or veterinary clinics.

HPAI and wildlife in Australia - risk mitigation toolbox for wildlife care providers (May 2024, v. 1.0).

Appendix 1 (risk mitigation checklist) (May 2024, v. 1.0).

Appendix 2 (spreadsheets for collating population information) (May 2024, v. 1.0).

A WHA HPAI risk mitigation toolbox for wildlife managers is also available.

- WHA National Wildlife Biosecurity Guidelines

Further relevant H5 bird flu resoures can be found in other resources tabs.

Wildlife managers, rangers, bird banders and researchers

Wildlife managers, rangers, bird banders and researchers

- WHA H5 bird flu adivce for those who may observe or handle wild birds and mammals, such as bird banders, wildlife rangers and researchers.

- The WHA HPAI risk mitigation toolbox for wildlife managers is a guidance document focussing on prevention and preparedness for H5 bird flu. It is targeted to those manage wildlife populations.

HPAI and wildlife in Australia - risk mitigation toolbox for wildlife managers (Apr 2024, v. 1.1)

Appendix 1 (risk mitigation checklist) (Apr 2024, v. 1.1).

Appendix 2 (spreadsheets for collating population information).

- WHA National Guidelines for Management of Disease in Free-ranging Australian Wildlife

- WHA National Wildlife Biosecurity Guidelines

- WHA Communications guide for managers of wildlife populations, developed to assist with public messaging in Australia about H5 bird flu in wildlife. This guide is limited to communications while H5 bird flu has not been detected in Australia.

- WHA video: H5 Bird Flu in Wildlife (Nov 2024, 16 minutes) - An educational webinar developed for government wildlife managers which includes a general H5 bird flu update.

Further releveant H5 bird flu resources can be found in other resource tabs.

Communications and human health

Guidance for public communication materials relating to H5 bird flu and wildlife, as well as information about human health.

How to communicate about H5 bird flu

How to communicate about H5 bird flu

- WHA Communications guide for managers of wildlife populations, to assist with public messaging in Australia about high pathogenicity avian influenza (H5 bird flu) in wildlife. The guide is limited to communications while H5 bird flu has not been detected in Australia.

- Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Resources for H5 avian influenza (bird flu) preparedness.

- Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy - Avian influenza awareness: Keep a TopWatch! (video).

- The interim Australian Centre for Disease Control has a bird flu (communication) toolkit for people who work with birds.

- World Organisation for Animal Health - Animation about how avian influenza threatens wild birds.

H5 bird flu and human health

H5 bird flu and human health

- The interim Australian Centre for Disease Control has information on bird flu, the situation in Australia, international travel tips and why getting your annual flu vaccine is important on their website.

- Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA) - National guidelines for avian influenza: protecting people who work with birds and wildlife.

- Public Health Association of Australia webinar - What individuals need to know to prepare for the likely arrival of HPAI H5N1 in Australia from a One Health perspective.

- WHO guidelines on influenza in animals - Public health resource pack for countries experiencing outbreaks of influenza in animals (March 2024)

- World Organisation for Animal Health & IUCN SSC Wildlife Health Specialist Group - Avian Influenza and Wildlife: Risk management for people working with wild birds.

Technical bird flu resources from WHA

WHA Fact Sheet: Avian influenza in wild birds in Australia (Feb 2025).

Technical Update – Global HPAI in Wildlife (Feb 2025).

HPAI clade 2.3.4.4b incursion risk assessment for Australia  (Based on information as of 20 July 2023).

Information about Australia's Wild Bird Avian Influenza Surveillance program.

AviFluMap: a H5 Bird Flu Model Tool for Australia's Wild Birds is an online tool designed to support wildlife managers and biosecurity stakeholders in assessing and responding to the risk of H5 bird flu in Australia's wild bird populations.

National and International bird flu information

Australian guidelines & information

Australian guidelines & information

- Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Information on Avian Influenza or Bird Flu.

- Animal Health Committee Policy Decision 25-01: Use of avian influenza vaccines for the protection of rare, protected and valuable avian species and accompanying factsheet.

- The Avian Influenza AUSVETPLAN sets out the nationally agreed response approach to Avian Influenza outbreaks in Australia. Download from the Animal Health Australia website under Disease specific documents.

- WHA National Guidelines for Management of Disease in Free-ranging Australian Wildlife.

- WHA National Wildlife Biosecurity Guidelines.

- Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA) - National guidelines for avian influenza: protecting people who work with birds and wildlife.

International guidelines

International guidelines

- World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)

General resources on avian influenza.

Considerations for emergency vaccination of wild birds against HPAI in specific situations.

Practical guide for authorised field responders to HPAI outbreaks in marine mammals, with a focus on biosecurity, sample collection for virus detection and carcass disposal.

- WOAH & IUCN SSC Wildlife Health Specialist Group - Avian Influenza and Wildlife: Risk management for people working with wild brids.

- Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels - Guidelines for working with albatrosses and petrels during the HPAI H5N1 panzootic.

- Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals Conference of the Parties - Resolution 14.18: Avian Influenza.

- FAO - Wild bird HPAI surveillance sample collection manual.

- Journal article - The risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the Southern Odean: a practical guide for operators and scientists interacting with wildlife (Dewar 2023).

- Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

Wetland Disease Manual Guidelines for Assessment, Monitoring and Management of Animal Disease in Wetlands

Handbook 4: Avian influenza and wetlands - Guidance on control of and responses to highly pathogenis avian influenza

Webinars

Webinars

- WHA video - H5 Bird Flu in Wildlife (Nov 2024, 16 minutes), an educational webinar developed for government wildlife managers which includes a general H5 Bird Flu update.

- Public Health Association of Australia webinar - What individuals need to know to prepare for the likely arrival of HPAI H5N1 in Australia from a One Health perspective.

- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Exercise Volare webinar: strengthening Australia’s preparedness for high pathogenic avian influenza.

- Biodiversity Council webinar - Preparing for bird flu impacts on Australian wildlife.

- Webinar series - How to protect wildlife from avian flu in UNESCO World Heritage sites, Biosphere Reserves and Ramsar sites Includes recordings of presentations by field workers, policy makers and WHA staff, as well as links to further information for wildlife managers.

Additional resources for bird flu in wildlife

Additional resources for bird flu in wildlife

- Outbreak.gov.au provides details on how to prepare for and respond to animal pests and diseases in Australia.

- Dr Michelle Wille is a senior research fellow at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza. Dr Wille contributes to HPAI preparedness and wild bird surveillance in Australia and collates key avian influenza resources, which are available on her website.

- OFFLU statement on continued expansion of HPAI H5 in wildlife in South America and incursion into the Antarctic region (Dec 2023).

- Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research

High Pathogenic Avian Influenza information page

Updated Biological Risk Assessment and Recommendations for Highly Pathogenicity Avian Influenza in Antarctica (Dec 2024).

- Publications from the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals Scientific Task Force on Avian Influenza and Wild Birds.

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Record.

Report.

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Avoid.

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