Avian influenza, or bird flu, is a serious infectious disease affecting poultry and wild birds in Australia, and across the world. Avian influenza has many different viral strains, some of which can infect humans and other animals.

There are two types of bird flu that have been making headlines recently – the H7 strains and H5N1.

Victorian outbreak

The 2024 outbreak of bird flu in Victoria was caused by two H7 strains. This sadly resulted in the mass culling of millions of infected poultry across eight farms, in order to protect the lives of many more uninfected poultry across the state and country.

Overseas outbreak

The highly infectious H5N1 strain of bird flu has spread to all continents apart from Australia; however, the spring migration of some shore and sea birds is a high-risk period for the strain arriving in Australia.

This strain has caused the deaths of millions of wild birds and tens of thousands of wild mammals. An outbreak in Australia could have disastrous consequences, especially as one in six Australian birds are already facing the threat of extinction.

How can you help?

There are ways you can help stop the spread of H5N1 before it is detected, including:

• AVOID contact with sick or dead wildlife,
• RECORD what you see, and
• REPORT anything unusual via the:
  • Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

For more information, please see BirdLife Australia’s factsheet HERE.

If you have backyard poultry, keep a close eye on Agriculture Victoria’s website. If there is another outbreak of H7 or H5N1 arrives, complying with any government directives and following expert advice will be imperative to halting the spread and protecting your flock.

If you have pet birds, like parrots, make sure to:

• Check Agriculture Victoria’s website
• Contact your local avian veterinarian for advice on specific preventative measures or if you are concerned your bird might be showing signs of bird flu
• Minimise all contact with wild birds
• Ensure water and food sources are covered to avoid contamination from wild bird droppings
• Follow strict hygiene and quarantine standards

What is RSPCA doing?

RSPCA is working hard to ensure that when mass culling needs to occur to protect the health and welfare of uninfected birds and people, that the most humane available option is used. In particular, we are strongly advocating that ventilation shutdown will not be allowed due to the extreme suffering caused by this method of depopulation. (Find out more about ventilation shutdown on our knowledgebase).

More research and funding is needed to develop and commercialise more humane, effective, and practical methods of mass culling to ensure that Australia is prepared in the event of an emergency animal disease outbreak. We are also advocating for increased funding into prevention strategies, including investigating the viability of vaccination.

Biosecurity is everyone’s responsibility, and mitigating the animal welfare impacts of a disease outbreak – be that from the disease itself or from the control methods employed during a response – must be strongly considered by all stakeholders in their planning and preparations.