You may have seen recent news that H5 bird flu (high pathogenicity avian influenza, or H5N1) was detected on the Australian mainland for the first time in June 2026. As of early July, five cases have been confirmed in wild migratory seabirds with four in Western Australia and one in South Australia.
There are no confirmed cases in Queensland at this stage. But our coastline hosts migratory shorebirds and seabirds every year, and it’s home to species that would be highly vulnerable if the virus did arrive. Early detection depends on communities like ours noticing when something looks wrong and knowing what to do next.
What to do if you find a sick or dead bird
Wildlife Health Australia’s advice is simple: avoid, record, report.
- Avoid touching or handling sick or dead birds or other wildlife, and keep pets and children away from them.
- Record what you see including the location, roughly how many birds, and what they look like (freshly dead, unwell, or showing unusual behaviour). Take a photo or video if it’s safe to do so.
- Report it. Call the national 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888, which operates across Australia.
Bird flu is a nationally notifiable disease, so reporting matters even if you’re not sure what you’re looking at.
Stay up to date
Use these links for further detail and updates as the situation develops: