Australia confirmed its first detections of H5 high pathogenicity avian influenza (H5 bird flu) in wild seabirds in Western Australia in June 2026.
Since then, the virus has been detected in wild birds across Western Australia, Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania. Importantly, there have been no detections of H5 bird flu in poultry, dairy cattle or other livestock in Australia.
The situation in South Australia
South Australia has experienced detections in wild birds, with evidence of local transmission and several wildlife mortality events. On 23 August 2026, testing at CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness confirmed H5 bird flu in a long-nosed fur seal at Beachport, marking Australia’s first confirmed detection of the virus in a mammal.
More recently, the virus has also been detected in a red fox in metropolitan Adelaide. These detections highlight that the disease is now present within Australian wildlife populations and will require ongoing surveillance and management.
The South Australian Government continues to undertake extensive surveillance and preparedness activities in partnership with industry, wildlife organisations and the community. As at 31 August 2026, South Australia had recorded 260 confirmed H5 bird flu events in wildlife, with continued monitoring occurring across the state. Despite these wildlife detections, there remain no confirmed cases in poultry or livestock.
What does this mean for the dairy industry?
The risk to the Australian dairy industry remains low.
While the United States has experienced transmission to dairy cattle, it remains the only country where this has occurred. A recent risk assessment commissioned by the Australian Government and Dairy Australia found that the risk to Australian dairy cattle remains low, and there is currently no evidence from the Australian outbreak to alter that assessment.
Food safety
Bird flu is not considered a food safety risk for poultry products when meat and eggs are handled and cooked correctly. Likewise, there is currently no evidence suggesting any risk to milk or dairy products from the Australian wildlife detections.
Biosecurity remains the best defence
Although the current risk to dairy cattle is low, accredited operators should continue to maintain strong farm biosecurity practices, including:
- Minimising contact between livestock and wild birds where practical.
- Maintaining good hygiene and cleaning of equipment, vehicles and footwear.
- Monitoring animals for unusual illness or unexplained drops in production.
- Ensuring staff understand reporting requirements and biosecurity protocols.
- Avoiding contact with sick or dead wildlife.
Anyone who encounters sick or dead birds or other wildlife should not handle the animals but record what they observe and report it to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
Stay informed
As H5 bird flu becomes more widespread in Australian wildlife, national reporting is increasingly focused on significant events and surveillance outcomes to help authorities better understand how the disease is spreading and which species are affected.
For the latest information visit:
Dairysafe will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available and will work closely with government and industry partners to ensure the South Australian dairy sector remains informed and prepared.