New bird flu advice for egg producers as testing continues

New biosecurity advice for egg producers as bird flu testing continues Sat 4 Jul 2026 at 6:30pm In short: New advice recommends states and territories encourage free-range producers to keep their birds indoors where practical. The measure aims to reduce contact between commercial flocks and wild birds to reduce the spread of H5N1 bird flu. What's next? CSIRO is examining samples from two birds found in WA and NSW yesterday that are suspected of having bird flu. A federal body that advises on critical animal diseases has recommended states and territories encourage free-range producers to keep their birds indoors where practical, in an effort to reduce contact with wild birds and protect commercial poultry from H5N1 bird flu. The federal Agriculture Department's Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Diseases (CCEAD) issued the advice today after meeting yesterday. In a statement, the committee said the move was a "time-limited approach" and the advice would be reviewed in two weeks. "Poultry producers are reminded that on-farm biosecurity practices are crucial to protect the health of their flocks," the statement read. Testing underway There are five confirmed cases of H5 bird flu in Australia: four in Western Australia and one in South Australia, with another two suspected cases detected in NSW and WA yesterday. NSW authorities are awaiting test results after a member of the public found a giant petrel on Hawks Nest Beach on the state's Mid North Coast. Samples have been sent to the CSIRO and are currently being tested to confirm whether they have high pathogenicity H5N1 avian influenza. The first-known bird flu case in Australia was in June in a brown skua seabird found at a beach in Western Australia. Planning ahead H5N1 avian influenza, or H5 bird flu, is a viral disease affecting birds across the world. It differs from other avian influenza strains because it has caused mass mortalities in poultry and wild birds, as well as mammals, particularly marine mammals. All Australian detections of the virus have involved migratory seabirds, but the concern is that the virus could spread across species. Charles Sturt University veterinary epidemiologist Jennifer Manyweathers said even if tests came back negative for H5 bird flu, it should not lead to complacency. "If it's not now, then it will come," she said. "So there are things that we can be doing, making sure that we've got a plan in place." Concerns about spread Dr Manyweathers said the virus was not just a threat to commercial birds such as poultry, but also native fauna. "In Australia, our beautiful native species have never been exposed to this [virus] before, so they will have not have a lot of immunity to the disease," she said. "It's very hard to vaccinate them. We may see mass die-outs, mass deaths in some of our wild species." The virus has been shown to spread into mammals, including seals and domestic animals like dogs and cats. Dr Manyweathers said people could help reduce transmission by ensuring their pets did not touch dead birds. "People walking their dogs on a lead is really important about this time, so that their dogs aren't running ahead and then rolling in this dead bird before you can even get hold of the dog." Risk to humans low While the risk to human health is low, people can become infected and transmit the virus. Dr Manyweathers said members of the public who found a sick bird should steer clear and notify authorities immediately. "Don't touch it and don't move it, because that's the contact, because we're susceptible hosts as well," she said. "If you're out walking your dogs and they lick you, then wash your hands. "Don't eat until you've washed your hands, don't wipe your face. "These are normal sorts of hygiene stuff, but we have to just be a little bit more careful in the same way that if you're looking after someone who's sick with flu."