Since 2020, a new strain of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI), H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b, has spread to every continent except Australia. The new strain, known as H5 avian influenza or H5 bird flu, has caused unprecedented outbreaks of disease in wild birds, wild mammals and some domesticated mammals.
To date, there have been no reported outbreaks of H5 avian influenza in Australia, but it is possible that migrating birds could bring the virus with them.
In the rest of the world, the H5 avian influenza strain has:
- caused severe disease and high death rates in wild birds
- infected more than 500 bird species from more than 25 avian orders
- infected more than 60 species of mammals including seals, sea lions, dolphins, porpoises, dairy cattle, pigs, foxes, cats and dogs
- infected some people who worked closely with infected animals or environments contaminated with bird droppings.
Unlike other strains of avian influenza, this strain can directly infect poultry with HPAI viruses and cause severe disease immediately (without needing to mutate).
If H5 avian influenza reaches Australia, it would have significant impacts on our wildlife, agricultural industries and the economy.
Federal, state and local governments, the poultry industry and wildlife stakeholders have been working together to reduce the likely impact of H5 avian influenza if it arrives in Australia.
