H5N1 bird flu warning to pet owners after first mainland Australia detections

Lort Smith Animal Hospital has warned pet owners to keep cats indoors where possible and dogs on leashes after H5N1 bird flu was confirmed in two seabirds in southern Western Australia.

The warning comes after Australia recorded its first mainland detections of the virus in a brown skua and a giant petrel found in the Esperance area. Officials have said there is no evidence yet that the virus has spread beyond the initial wild bird cases or into poultry.

The hospital said cats are especially vulnerable if they come into contact with infected birds or carcasses. It said infections in dogs and cats are rare, but can be severe, particularly in cats.

What happened in Western Australia

The first confirmed mainland case was a brown skua near Cape Le Grand National Park, south-east of Esperance. A second seabird from the same area, a giant petrel, was later reported as also testing positive for H5N1.

The detections have triggered wider biosecurity concern because migratory seabirds are one of the most likely ways the virus can move between regions. Western Australia authorities have urged people to avoid contact with sick or dead birds and to report them to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline.

Advice for pet owners

Lort Smith Animal Hospital advised cat owners to keep pets indoors where possible, particularly in coastal, bushland and waterway areas where wildlife is more likely to be encountered.

Dog owners were told to keep dogs on leads when walking near bird habitats. The goal is to reduce the chance that dogs sniff, mouth or pick up dead wildlife.

The warning is aimed at changing behaviour immediately while authorities continue monitoring for any further sick or dead birds in the region.

Why the warning matters

Australia had previously been the only continent free of the H5N1 strain now circulating globally. The arrival of the virus on the mainland has raised concern for native wildlife, poultry farms and the broader food supply.

Bird flu is a particular risk for wildlife conservation in Australia because some native species could be highly vulnerable if the virus becomes established beyond the initial detections.

Authorities are still watching for signs of spillover into poultry or mammals, but so far there is no confirmed broader spread.

Pet owners who find a sick or dead bird are being told not to touch it and to follow official reporting advice.