H5 Avian Influenza (bird flu) update: What SA Livestock Producers should know and do

Livestock SA is monitoring developments relating to H5 Avian Influenza (bird flu) and engaging with government and other industries as the situation evolves.

While H5 bird flu has not been detected in South Australia, surveillance activities have increased following recent detections in wildlife in Western Australia.

In South Australia, government agencies are undertaking enhanced monitoring of wildlife and high-risk coastal areas, and working with livestock industries to ensure reporting pathways and response arrangements are in place.

At this stage, there is no impact on livestock production systems, but maintaining awareness and good biosecurity practices remains important.

What to be aware of

Producers should be alert for unusual illness or deaths in birds or wildlife, including:

• multiple sick or dead birds in one location
• respiratory distress (open mouth breathing, coughing, sneezing)
• nervous signs (twisted neck, inability to stay upright, inability to fly, uncoordinated movement, walking or swimming in circles, partial or full paralysis)
• swollen head
• reluctance to move, eat, or drink.

These signs do not necessarily indicate bird flu but should be reported to support early detection.

What you can do on-farm

Simple, practical steps can help reduce risk:

• Do not touch or handle sick or dead birds or wildlife
• Avoid contact between livestock and wild birds where possible
• Keep an eye on water points, feed areas and locations where birds congregate
• Ensure staff and visitors follow basic farm biosecurity practices
• Record and report any unusual observations promptly.

If sick or dead birds are found, leave them undisturbed and avoid the area.

Reporting

If you observe sick or dead birds or unusual wildlife behaviour:

Emergency Animal Disease Hotline: 1800 675 888

Report what you see (location, number of animals, and symptoms observed). Early reporting supports Australia’s surveillance and response systems.

About H5 bird flu

H5N1 Avian Influenza is a highly pathogenic virus that primarily affects birds and can cause rapid illness and high mortality, particularly in poultry. It has spread globally in wild birds and has occasionally been detected in some mammal species. Rare human infections have also been reported.

To date, there have been no detections of avian influenza in livestock in Australia, and transmission to beef cattle, sheep and goats is considered unlikely in extensive production systems.

Further information

Visit PIRSA’s dedicated Avian Influenza webpage: HERE