GPs Advised to Watch for Bird Flu as H5N1 Reaches Australia
03 Jul 2026
Australian GPs are being urged to stay alert following the detection of the H5N1 bird flu strain in wild birds for the first time in the country. While health authorities say the risk to the public remains low, doctors are being advised to consider the virus when treating patients who may have been exposed to infected birds.
Five confirmed cases of the H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b virus have been found in wild birds—four in Western Australia and one in South Australia. A suspected case is also being investigated in New South Wales.
The Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC) says bird flu infections in people are rare and person-to-person spread is uncommon. However, the virus can cause serious illness in some cases.
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said GPs should be aware of the outbreak, particularly when treating patients who have handled sick or dead birds in affected areas.
Symptoms of bird flu can include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, red eyes, muscle aches, headache, tiredness and stomach-related symptoms. Illness can range from mild to severe and usually develops within one to 10 days after exposure.
Health experts say people can become infected through close contact with infected birds, their body fluids or contaminated environments. The public is advised not to touch sick or dead birds and to report multiple bird deaths to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline.
Professor Cassandra Berry from Murdoch University said the detection of H5N1 in Australia does not mean a new pandemic has begun. She noted that human infections usually require close contact with infected birds and that transmission between people remains very rare.
The Australian Government says it has invested more than $113 million to strengthen the country's preparedness and has national response plans in place to manage any potential outbreak.
GPs Advised to Watch for Bird Flu as H5N1 Reaches Australia
Source: newsGP / Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC), July 2026.