About H5 bird flu
Current situation
There has been no detection of H5 bird flu in the Northern Territory.
For confirmed cases in other states, visit the Australian Government website at birdflu.gov.au
Overseas, H5 bird flu has caused severe disease and high death rates in poultry, wild birds and other wildlife. The risk to human health remains low. There has been no human case of this strain reported in Australia.
The Northern Territory Government is working in collaboration with other jurisdictions and the Australian Government, with surveillance continuing to ensure early detection of any further cases.
Public reporting is a critical part of the response and supporting ongoing detection efforts.
Bird flu is a viral disease that mostly affects birds. It can also affect other animals and, in rare cases, people.
Bird flu viruses are classified as:
- low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI), which usually causes mild illness in birds
- high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI), which can cause severe disease and death in birds.
A high pathogenicity strain called H5N1 bird flu is currently circulating around the world and has recently been detected in Australia.
Wild birds most affected by H5N1 include:
- waterfowl
- shorebirds
- seabirds
- birds of prey and scavenging birds.
Domestic poultry and captive birds are also at high risk.
H5N1 has affected some marine mammals and has also been detected in other animals, including cats, goats, alpacas and pigs.
Risk to people
The risk of bird flu to people in Australia is currently low.
Bird flu rarely infects people. There is no evidence that the current H5N1 strain spreads between people.
Chicken meat and eggs remain safe to eat when they are handled and cooked properly.
H5N1 is expected to remain an ongoing wildlife disease in Australia and will continue to require monitoring and management.
Signs of bird flu
Do not touch a bird if it shows any of the following signs:
- lack of coordination, tremors or swimming in circles
- inability to stand or fly
- twisted neck or unusual posture
- difficulty breathing, coughing or sneezing
- swelling around the head, neck or eyes
- lethargy or reluctance to move, eat or drink
- reduced egg production
- cloudy eyes or changes in eye colour
- watery diarrhoea
- sudden death.
How bird flu spreads
Bird flu can spread through:
- direct contact with infected birds
- bird droppings
- saliva and nasal secretions
- contaminated equipment, vehicles, footwear and clothing.
Most bird flu viruses do not spread easily from animals to people.
People usually become infected only after close contact with infected birds, other infected animals or contaminated environments.
Report sick or dead birds
Everyone can help monitor and manage bird flu.
If you see multiple sick or dead birds, you must:
- avoid contact with the birds
- keep pets away and do not let them touch or eat the birds
- record what you see, including the location
- take photos or videos if it is safe to do so.
You can report the sighting by:
- submitting the wild bird disease report form (for wild birds only)
- calling the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
More information
For information about bird flu in Australia, go to the Australian Government website.
For information about bird flu and human health, go to the NT Health avian influenza page.