Authors: Euan G Ritchie and Marissa L Parrott
Published in: Nature
In June, highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 was detected in Australia for the first time, in birds in a remote region in the west of the country. It is unknown whether the virus has spread to other wildlife. So far, livestock seem unaffected. But H5N1 is starting to be detected across the country, and its impact on the many endemic and increasingly imperilled species could be substantial.
Bird species of great conservation concern include the critically endangered orange-bellied parrot (Neophema chrysogaster) and regent honeyeater (Anthochaera phrygia). Aquatic mammals, such as the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) and rakali (Hydromys chrysogaster), a native rodent, might be affected through transmission from water birds. Dingoes, quolls, bandicoots and other species that scavenge dead animals risk infection from carcasses. Many of the nation’s endangered mammals, including the Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea) and the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), are potentially exposed.
The country must be vigilant, not alarmed. We call on government, industry and communities to increase efforts and work together to protect the continent’s species and ecosystems in the face of this unfolding threat.
Ritchie EG, Parrott ML (2026) Bird flu H5N1 in Australia: protect Australian species from bird flu virus. Nature PDF DOI