New South Wales has confirmed its first detection of the highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza virus after a giant petrel was found dead on a beach near Hawks Nest on Saturday. Testing by the CSIRO's Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness returned a positive result for H5N1, prompting the NSW Government to immediately activate its H5 Bird Flu Response Plan and issue urgent biosecurity guidance to the state's poultry industry.

The NSW case brings the total number of confirmed H5N1 detections in migratory seabirds across Australia to six, with previous cases recorded in Western Australia and South Australia. Authorities are also investigating a further suspected detection in the northern Perth suburb of Mullaloo.

What NSW's Bird Flu Response Plan Involves

The state government's activated response includes heightened biosecurity advice for poultry producers, expanded surveillance operations using drones and ground crews, and the deployment of more than 500 trained government staff to support the effort.

NSW Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said the government had been expecting a positive result and was well prepared to manage it.

"The NSW Government has been preparing for a positive result for some time and there is a clear plan in place to support industry and the community," she said, stressing that the case remained contained to a single wild bird.

"At this stage the result is limited to a single migratory seabird and has not impacted our poultry sector or domestic wildlife," Moriarty said. "There is no impact on the supply of chicken meat or eggs and I would encourage everyone to purchase these products as they normally would."

NSW Chief Veterinary Officer Jo Coombe said the confirmation was itself a sign the biosecurity system was functioning as designed, with the bird detected through active public awareness campaigns and surveillance activities.

"This confirmed case of H5N1 avian influenza in a giant petrel was detected as a result of our surveillance activities, which included increased awareness and advice to the public to report sick or dead birds or wildlife," she said. "It demonstrates that our biosecurity system based on the principle of shared responsibility is operating effectively."

Free-Range Poultry Farmers Advised to Consider Housing Birds Indoors

At a national level, Australia's peak technical body for animal health emergencies has recommended that commercial poultry producers consider temporarily housing free-range birds indoors for up to two weeks while authorities fully assess the biosecurity threat.

The Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Diseases acting chair Sam Hamilton said the recommendation was non-mandatory and would be up to individual states and territories to endorse. He also cautioned that farmers should only move birds inside if it was practical and did not compromise animal welfare.

"There have only been detections in migratory seabirds that occasionally visit Australia," Dr Hamilton said following an emergency committee meeting. "There remains no evidence of any mass mortality events and there are no detections in poultry or in our agricultural production system. The risk to human health remains low."

Despite these assurances, experts say the spread of detections to the east coast represents a significant development. The virus was first confirmed on the Australian mainland on 14 June, when a brown skua was found in Esperance on Western Australia's south coast.

Expert Voices: Cause for Vigilance, Not Panic

Researchers have urged the public to remain calm while taking the threat seriously. A scientific director at the Burnet Institute said the Hawks Nest detection was significant but did not warrant alarm, noting that avian influenza viruses do not easily infect people and that human cases typically occur only after close contact with infected birds or heavily contaminated environments.

The same researcher emphasised that detecting the virus in wild birds does not indicate it is widespread across the country or that it has entered commercial poultry operations. Early detection, she stressed, gives authorities the best chance to understand where the virus is moving and limit any further spread.

A researcher from La Trobe University's Institute for Molecular Science warned the virus could spread quickly and highlighted the uncertainty around its potential impact on Australia's native bird populations.

"That's certainly been the talk from a lot of experts in the field, that we don't know what is going to happen to our native bird populations," she said.

What the Public Should Do

Authorities have issued clear guidance for anyone who comes across sick or dead wild birds. Members of the public are advised to:

  • Avoid handling any sick or dead wild bird under any circumstances
  • Record the location with photos or video where it is safe and possible to do so
  • Report the sighting immediately by calling the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888

Minister Moriarty also thanked industry partners, the veterinary community, wildlife workers and the broader public for their cooperation in supporting early detection efforts, calling shared responsibility the cornerstone of the state's biosecurity approach.

With surveillance operations continuing and the national response plan in motion, officials say they are monitoring the situation closely — but remain confident the commercial chicken meat and egg supply is unaffected and safe for consumers.