Australia’s first suspected case of a deadly global strain of bird flu has been found in WA, the Federal Government has confirmed.

West Australians have been urged not to touch sick or dead birds or animals after a suspected detection of the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5 strain of bird flu in the State.

The strain has already wiped out millions of wild birds and marine mammals globally.

The bird was found sick near Cape Le Grand beach in the national park about 56km east of Esperance in the south of the State on June 14 before being taken into care.

WA Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis said the bird with the suspected case was a brown skua seabird — which is a sub-antarctic bird rarely found in the area.

“The bird subsequently died after being taken into care and isolated for treatment as a result of WA’s established early detection system,” she said.

“A sick giant petrel was also found in the same area due to it also being a sub-Antarctic bird, this has also been tested, and we are awaiting results.

“Both DPIRD and DBCA have been preparing for this for several years… we always knew that it was, if not when we got this avian influenza.

She noted that in recent years, H5 bird flu has spread fast around the world, causing severe disease and high death rates in poultry, wild birds, and affected mammals.

“The WA government is working closely with the Australian government and other relevant organisations to manage the situation. We have informed key stakeholders and the state opposition,” Minister Jarvis said.

“If this is confirmed h5 bird incursion, there will be a rapid and coordinated national response in partnership with the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and forestry in Western Australia. The response will be led by DPIRD as the lead agency.”

Australia’s Agriculture Minister Julie Collins had first confirmed the suspected case of the virus on mainland Australia during a press conference in Tasmania on Friday afternoon.

She said the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development was investigating and samples had been sent to CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness.

“We cannot confirm yet whether it is the strain of concern that is circulating at this stage, known as the H5 strain bird flu,” she said.

Ms Collins said the testing is expected to be completed “overnight or early” Saturday and she would fly to Canberra urgently for further briefings across the weekend.

While Ms Collins said there was no evidence of infection in poultry, she urged Australians to be cautious.

“There is no evidence of any mass mortality at this time, nor is there any evidence of infection in poultry,” she said.

“A key message for everyone is, please do not touch sick or dead birds or animals.

“If you see multiple sick or dead birds or other animals, please take photos or record it from a safe distance, record your location and go to Birdflu.gov.au to report it.

“I want everyone to know that this is what we have been preparing for.

“We’ve undertaken a series of national exercises, and we’ve invested $113 million to strengthen our nation’s preparedness for the H5 bird flu, including an additional $11 million in the most recent budget.

“If it is confirmed to be the H5 bird flu, this will be sobering, but not unexpected, given the spread globally.”

She said a second sick migratory bird was also being tested for the H5 strain.

Industry experts and representatives from State and Territories were expected to hold meetings about the virus threat on Friday afternoon.

Minister Jarvis confirmed that initial responses were already moving.

We desperately hope this is not the realisation of our worst dreams. The recently reported mass deaths of elephant seals on Heard Island were a harbinger of the potential catastrophe for Australian wildlife

“There is already a consultative committee that deals with animal emergencies. They’ve had a preliminary meeting today. They are having a formal meeting very early tomorrow morning, and so once they have met, there are set protocols in place for all biosecurity incursions,” she said.

Michelle Roden, Chief Veterinary Officer of WA, explained that the immediate operational focus would be mapping the boundary of the potential infection.

“The first step really is to work out whether it has spread anywhere, because there is a possibility that these birds have come in and actually hasn’t spread anymore,” Dr Roden said.

“So we will be doing surveillance across the coast of Australia, not just here, to make sure that there’s no other detentions across Australia.

“And then obviously we can’t really control their movement, so what we’re putting in place is mechanisms to protect the species if they’re in breeding colonies, now to try and prevent people sort of moving dead birds around and sort of threatening them.

“And I guess a lot of that primary focus is on the poultry industry to make sure they can protect the poultry sector in Australia.”

Addressing the agricultural sector directly, Minister Jarvis sought to reassure commercial producers while reminding them of baseline biosecurity protocols.

“Poultry farmers are well aware of what they need to do. It is basically about housing animals. The biggest risk to poultry is from wild birds coming into contact with them, so obviously making sure birds are housed rather than in the open,” Minister Jarvis said.

“I will reiterate, however, this was found in Cape Le Grand National Park. It is a long way from commercial poultry producers.”

Government officials emphasised local residents and tourists visiting the south coast are not in immediate danger, provided they follow standard safety protocols.

“Our advice is, if you were in the Cape of Grand area, you are not at risk, but if you see sick or dying birds, that you take a photo, you don’t touch the bird, and you report it … and so this is not something that will pass to humans simply by being in the vicinity,” Minister Jarvis said.

“Let’s be very clear, the risk to human health is very low, but out of an abundance of caution, we ask you not to handle sick or dying birds.”

Dr Roden agreed with the risk assessment.

“It is a low risk to humans, but only really if they’re in direct contact with the birds that are infected, which is why we recommend people avoid these particular species of birds.”

The state opposition backed the governments preparedness.

“Western Australia’s biosecurity system has been preparing for the potential arrival of avian influenza for many years, and it is important that the response is guided by science, evidence and expert advice,” Shadow Minister for Agriculture Lachlan Hunter said.

Mr Hunter said his thoughts were with poultry producers and regional communities who would be closely following developments.

“I know many people across the agricultural sector will be concerned by these reports, particularly poultry producers whose livelihoods depend on maintaining strong animal health and biosecurity standards,” he said.

“Western Australia has a strong reputation for biosecurity, and this situation reinforces the importance of maintaining robust surveillance, preparedness and response capabilities. I will continue to stay in close contact with industry and government and provide updates to regional communities as more information becomes available.”

The geographic scale of the threat is underscored by recent heavy losses closer to Antarctica.

More than 13,000 baby seals on Heard Island have been killed by the strain after it was first detected on the remote sub-Antarctic island, 4000km southwest of Perth in October.

Scientists who visited Heard Island estimated 76 per cent of the total southern elephant seal pups population had died from the disease.

Invasive Species Council policy director Dr Carol Booth said if the suspected case is proved positive overnight it would be the “realisation of our worst dreams”.

“We desperately hope this is not the realisation of our worst dreams. The recently reported mass deaths of elephant seals on Heard Island were a harbinger of the potential catastrophe for Australian wildlife,” she said.

“It is a good thing governments have spent the past two years preparing for the arrival of bird flu but a mainland detection would be a critical test of Australia’s preparedness and response systems.

“Even if this is a false alarm, it warns against any complacency.

“Australia needs to be ready at any time with clear response plans. It also highlights the urgency of mitigating other threats to potentially susceptible wildlife.”

Sick bird reports can be made to the emergency animal disease hotline 1800-675-888 or Birdflu.gov.au.