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🇦🇺 Australia /Health & Science

Bird Flu Detection in Western Australia a 'Distant Concern' for Victoria, Farmers Say

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • Avian influenza (H5 variant) has been detected in a bird that washed ashore in Western Australia, marking the first instance on mainland Australia.
  • While the detection is a concern, the head of Victoria's peak farming group described it as a "distant concern" for Victorians, urging alertness but not alarm.
  • The agricultural industry is preparing for potential future outbreaks, with biosecurity measures being increased, as the H5 virus is considered more virulent than previous strains.

The detection of the H5 variant of avian influenza in Western Australia is a "distant concern" for Victoria, according to the state's peak farming group. This marks the first time the deadly virus variant has been found in mainland Australia, after a bird washed up on a remote beach near Esperance.

So there is no need to be alarmed yet, but just be alert and report anything you're unsure of around native birds.

— Ryan MilgateVictorian Farmers Federation president advising the public on the bird flu detection.

While a second case in Western Australia is under investigation, Victorian Farmers Federation president Ryan Milgate advised the public to remain alert but not alarmed. He emphasized that preparedness measures are in place and that the situation is currently far from Victoria. "Right now we're talking about what preparedness looks like … but we're well prepared," Milgate stated.

Right now we're talking about what preparedness looks like … but we're well prepared.

— Ryan MilgateVictorian Farmers Federation president on the state's readiness for avian influenza.

However, Milgate acknowledged the potential risks if the virus were to spread to Victoria, noting the difficulty in protecting the free-range poultry industry from migratory birds. He also pointed to the risk of the virus impacting dairy herds. Victorian Farmers Federation egg group president Brian Ahmed echoed these concerns, stating that the discovery was not entirely surprising given the virus's global spread.

We've been aware of the avian influenza virus for some time and we've been watching it closely worldwide.

— Brian AhmedVictorian Farmers Federation egg group president on the industry's awareness of bird flu.

Ahmed highlighted that farmers have been increasing biosecurity measures and preparing for potential future occurrences. He stressed that while farmers do their best, controlling wild birds entering free-range farms is impossible. The industry views the arrival of the virus not as a matter of if, but when. Ahmed expressed particular concern about the H5 virus's higher virulence and rapid spread compared to the H7N8 strain, which caused significant culling of birds in Victoria in 2024 and the previous year.

A lot of farmers have upped biosecurity and they're preparing themselves for what may eventually happen.

— Brian AhmedVictorian Farmers Federation egg group president on farmers' preparations for bird flu.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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