Australia confronts H5N1 bird flu detections and issues pet safety warnings

Australia confirmed four cases of the highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu in wild seabirds, including giant petrels found on Western Australia’s south‑west coast and a case in South Australia. The virus, which has killed millions of birds and thousands of marine mammals worldwide, prompted authorities to warn pet owners to keep cats indoors and dogs on leads, especially at beaches where dead birds may wash ashore. Threatened species commissioner Dr Fiona Fraser said, “Pet cats and dogs which come into contact with sick birds could catch H5 bird flu themselves,” and urged the public to avoid handling wild birds.

The outbreak sparked concerns about the poultry sector, valued at about $8 billion annually. Environment minister Murray Watt warned that spread to commercial farms “would be very, very serious and damaging economically.” In response, the country’s largest poultry producer, Ingham, shut down its Western Australian breeder farms and restricted access to its facilities. Meanwhile, a dead giant petrel left on Victoria’s Johanna Beach for more than 22 hours drew criticism of the state’s biosecurity response, with a witness describing it as “shambolic.” Government agencies are reviewing monitoring capacity as the virus reaches the Australian mainland for the first time.