Bird flu in South Australia: Your questions answered

The good news is that the risk to human health remains low, and there have currently been no H5 bird flu detections in poultry or other livestock in South Australia. But it’s still important to know what to look out for, how to protect your pets and what to do if you come across sick or dead birds or other wildlife.

Read the FAQs below to learn more.

First things first: what actually is bird flu?

Bird flu, also known as avian influenza, is a virus that mainly affects birds. It can also affect other animals and, on rare occasions, people.

There are different types of bird flu viruses. Some cause very little illness in birds, while others, known as high pathogenicity avian influenza, can cause serious disease and high death rates in poultry and wild birds. This strain that has recently reached our shores for the first time is a high pathogenicity type known as H5N1 2.3.4.4b and commonly referred to globally as “H5 bird flu”.

This strain has now spread to every continent in the world and has affected wild birds, poultry and some mammals overseas. In South Australia, the first confirmed detection was in a wild migratory bird, a southern giant petrel. For the latest updates on confirmed events visit the interactive map on birdflu.sa.gov.au.

Bird-to-bird transmission ofH5 bird flu happens very easily through direct contact, shared water, droppings, and respiratory secretions, whereas bird-to-mammal transmission occurs when mammals touch, eat, or share the environment with sick birds, contaminated droppings, or infected carcasses. There is currently no evidence that the virus has adapted to infect mammals more easily and mammal to mammal transmission has only rarely been seen overseas. Testing undertaken as part of the H5 bird flu response includes monitoring for these and other changes in the virus.

Should I be worried about my health?

For most people, the risk is very low. Bird flu viruses do not spread easily from birds to humans, and human infections are very rare. It is also exceptionally rare for bird flu to spread from person to person.

You are not considered at risk just from walking past a sick or dead bird, but you should not touch it with bare hands.

If you have had direct contact with a sick or dead bird, or with feathers, droppings or waste from a sick bird, keep an eye out for symptoms for 10 days. Symptoms can be similar to seasonal flu and may include fever, cough, tiredness, muscle aches, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose, headache, diarrhoea or conjunctivitis.

If symptoms develop, contact your GP and let them know about the exposure.

What should I do if I find a sick or dead bird?

Please don’t touch it, move it or try to rescue it yourself. Instead:

• Avoid touching sick or dead birds or other wildlife.
• Record what you see, including the location, the number of animals affected and, if safe, a photo from a distance.
• Report it to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

Reports from the community help animal health authorities understand what is happening and respond safely. Not every sick or dead animal has bird flu, and not every report will require collection for testing or disposal, but every report helps.

What signs should I look out for in wild birds?

Wild birds affected by H5 bird flu may show signs such as difficulty standing, walking or flying, a droopy or puffed-up appearance, breathing problems, unusual head or neck posture, or sudden death, especially where multiple birds are found together.

Other wildlife may show weakness, trouble walking or breathing, seizures, tremors, walking in circles, drooling, a runny nose, sudden illness or death.

If you see any of these signs, keep children and pets away and call the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

Can I still visit the beach, wetlands or parks?

Absolutely, just be aware of your surroundings.

If you’re heading to areas where wild birds gather, such as beaches, wetlands, lakes or coastal habitats, and you see sick or dead birds, or other wildlife don’t touch them. Take a photo from a safe distance if you can, note the location and call the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888. Not every sick or dead animal has bird flu, and not every report will require collection for testing or disposal, but every report helps.

What about my dog or cat?

Dogs and cats can be curious, so it’s best to keep them away from wild birds, especially sick or dead ones. Overseas, H5 bird flu has occurred infrequently in cats and dogs, usually after exposure to sick or dead birds, direct contact with other infected animals, raw pet food or unpasteurised milk.  

To reduce the risk:

• keep dogs on a lead, particularly in wildlife areas
• keep dogs and cats from roaming
• keep pets away from sick or dead birds or other wildlife
• Keep your pet’s food and water indoors and out of reach of wildlife
• clean your shoes after walking in wildlife areas

If your pet becomes unwell after contact with sick or dead birds, phone your vet for advice. Signs in dogs and cats may include fever, tiredness, reduced appetite, eye or nasal discharge, coughing, sneezing, difficulty breathing, tremors, seizures or poor coordination.

I have backyard chickens. What should I do?

Backyard poultry owners can take simple steps to help protect their birds.

Keep feed and water covered or inside where practical, so wild birds can’t access it. Provide fresh feed and water daily, keep feed and water areas clean, regularly change nesting materials and separate different poultry species where possible, such as chickens, ducks and turkeys.

It’s also a good idea to keep new birds separate from your flock for at least two weeks, limit visitors around your birds, and wash your hands with soap before and after handling poultry.

If your birds show signs such as sudden deaths, breathing problems, a twisted neck, difficulty standing, reduced egg production, misshapen eggs, diarrhoea or a droopy appearance contact your private veterinarian or call the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888 where your call will be triaged accordingly.

Is chicken and egg still safe to eat?

Yes. Bird flu is not a food safety risk for chicken meat and eggs if they are handled and cooked correctly.

As always, follow good food safety practices: wash your hands after handling raw meat or eggs, avoid cross-contamination and cook poultry and eggs properly.

If you hunt or take part in cultural practices, do not handle birds or wild mammals that appear sick or are found dead. Any traditional hunting catches should be thoroughly cooked before eating.

What is being done to respond?

South Australia has a coordinated response underway across government, industry and the wildlife sector.

The bird flu website has been set up as a central source of information, bringing together updates and advice from agencies including SA Health, PIRSA and the Department for Environment and Water.

Surveillance has included aerial surveys across coastal areas, islands, the Lower Lakes, Coorong, Limestone Coast and River Murray, along with land-based patrols of beaches, wetlands and other high-risk locations.

Testing is also being carried out on birds and other wildlife identified through surveillance. Not every sick or dead animal has bird flu, and not every report will require collection for testing or disposal, but every report helps. Training is being provided to veterinarians and wildlife carers to support safe reporting, handling and biosecurity practices.

How can I help?

The most helpful thing you can do is stay alert and report sick or dead birds or other wildlife.

Remember the three easy steps: Avoid. Record. Report.

That means don’t touch sick or dead wildlife, record what you see from a safe distance and report it to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888. Not every sick or dead animal has bird flu, and not every report will require collection for testing or disposal, but every report helps.

You can also help by keeping pets away from wildlife, practising good hygiene around backyard poultry, and sticking to trusted sources of information.

Where can I find more information?

Visit birdflu.sa.gov.au for the latest updates, advice and resources about H5 bird flu in South Australia.

For health advice, visit SA Health’s bird flu information page.

And if you see sick or dead birds or other wildlife, call the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

Banner photo courtesy of Martin Stokes.