A greater crested tern found in Portland, Victoria has tested positive for the deadly H5N1 bird flu strain, marking the first detection in the state and raising urgent concerns about the vulnerability of wildlife populations and the livelihoods of farmers who've already endured devastating losses from previous outbreaks.
The ill bird was discovered by a member of the public near the South Australian border and reported to authorities, who confirmed the virus through testing. Victoria's chief veterinary officer Graeme Cooke urged anyone who finds a cluster of at least five sick birds of any species to alert authorities immediately. Even a single sick or dead seabird, waterbird, shorebird or bird of prey, or marine mammal such as seals and dolphins, should be reported. "We recognise this can be unsettling news for members of our community," Cooke said.
A History of Devastating Losses
The virus can devastate poultry and wildlife populations, and the latest strain has authorities and farmers on edge amid concerns about an outbreak on poultry farms. The detection of a separate bird flu strain on farms in the second year resulted in about 1.3 million birds being euthanised, followed by about 600,000 in the first year. Those losses represent not just numbers but the economic stability of farming families and the workers who depend on the poultry industry.
Since the detection of the H5N1 virus in Western Australia within the past month, poultry keepers have been asked to voluntarily house their birds. In Victoria, that period has now been extended to a minimum of 14 days from today. H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b has been declared ineradicable by authorities, following confirmation on Wednesday that the virus is circulating among local birds.
Federal Response and Coordination
The national committee on emergency animal diseases, which comprises state and federal chief veterinary officers as well as scientific experts, said now the virus had spread among local terns it wasn't feasible to stamp it out of the country. The official declaration triggers national coordination for cost sharing in response to the deadly virus.
The Albanese government has already committed $113 million to preparations to deal with an H5N1 incursion, with an emphasis on planning to identify an outbreak swiftly and a response to limit its spread. This includes funding to prepare biosecurity officers to respond to an outbreak in farmed poultry, which may involve quarantining farms or districts and restricting transport between locations. That investment reflects recognition that protecting both agricultural workers and native wildlife requires coordinated public action and robust institutional capacity.
Wildlife at Risk
Authorities are using aerial surveillance methods, with helicopters and drones monitoring wildlife populations. Victoria's chief biodiversity officer James Todd said seal and gannet colonies in Portland were among the wildlife vulnerable to the disease. "We've been preparing for H5 arrival in Victoria for a few years now," he said. "Our best line of defence at this stage is still the Victorian public."
In a statement, Wildlife Victoria said it received a call from a concerned member of the public earlier this week about the greater crested tern in Portland showing signs of the virus. "Wildlife Victoria monitored the case until Agriculture Victoria responders arrived on scene to contain and test the bird," it said. "The tern was confirmed positive to H5 bird flu shortly after."
Victorian Farmers Federation president Ryan Milgate said farmers should review their biosecurity plans and look out for unusual illness or unexplained bird deaths. "There has been no spread to commercial poultry flocks or any agricultural environment at this stage, and the risk to human health remains very low," he said.
The signs of H5N1 in birds include lack of coordination, tremors, swimming in circles, twisted necks, inability to fly or stand, diarrhoea, breathing difficulties, coughing, sneezing, swelling around the head, neck and eyes as well as cloudy eyes and changes in eye colour, as well as sudden death.
Why This Matters:
The arrival of H5N1 in Victoria threatens both ecological systems and the economic security of farming communities already reeling from previous outbreaks that killed nearly two million birds. The declaration that the virus is ineradicable means long-term vigilance and sustained public investment will be essential to protect vulnerable wildlife populations, including seal and gannet colonies, and to prevent catastrophic losses on poultry farms. The federal government's $113 million commitment demonstrates that effective biosecurity requires coordinated institutional response, not just individual farmer action. Public participation in reporting sick birds has already proven critical, showing how collective responsibility and adequately funded public health infrastructure work together to protect both livelihoods and biodiversity. The extension of voluntary housing requirements for poultry reflects the precautionary principle that should guide public health policy when communities face emerging threats.