Avian influenza
What is avian influenza?
Avian influenza, also known as bird flu, is a viral disease caused by influenza A virus. Strains of avian influenza are categorised as either low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) or high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) according to the severity of disease in poultry.
In Australia, wild birds usually waterfowl (e.g. ducks, geese, swans), seabirds and shorebirds can carry LPAI viruses without causing or showing signs of disease.
LPAI viruses can spillover and spread from wild birds to domestic poultry such as chickens, ducks or turkeys. Occasionally LPAI strains evolve into HPAI strains when they spread among poultry.
Like human Influenza A, avian influenza constantly evolves resulting in ongoing emergence of new strains. H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b is a serious and highly contagious strain.
Avian influenza is most commonly transmitted via direct contact with respiratory secretions and faecal material, as well as indirect exposure to contaminated environments, water or objects (e.g. clothing, boots, equipment etc.).
Overseas, the emergence of HPAI H5N1 has produced a significant increase in the intensity, frequency and geographic range of HPAI outbreaks in both wild birds and poultry. This strain has also resulted in the deaths of a large number of terrestrial and aquatic mammals overseas, both wild and domestic. Mammals (both land and aquatic) which have become infected, are thought to become exposed by ingesting infected birds through predation or scavenging behaviours.
Although avian influenza does not normally infect humans, some strains of the virus have been associated with disease in people. If you see more than five dead birds in your neighbourhood, parks or streets, report it to Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23 or the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
Don’t touch sick or dead wild birds.
What are the risks of avian influenza?
Although avian influenza does not normally infect humans, some subtypes (including strains currently circulating globally) have caused disease in humans ranging from mild illness to severe disease and death.
How is it transmitted?
Most human cases of avian influenza have been related to exposure to infected live or deceased poultry.
Indirect contact with the virus caused by touching or handling contaminated equipment, surfaces or the environment may also pose a risk for becoming infected with avian influenza.
Who is most at risk?
The highest risk of exposure are people who work with birds and/or in environments with birds and their excrement. Such as:
- parks and wildlife workers (including volunteers)
- poultry production and processing workers
- veterinary staff, animal refuge and rehabilitation workers (including volunteers)
- groundskeepers
- council workers
- bird breeders and/or bird display workers
- researchers and Laboratory workers who handle bird specimens
- people who hunt and handle or butcher wild birds.
How do I manage the risk?
Eliminating exposure to avian influenza is the most effective way to protect workers, however this may not always be possible. Where possible people should avoid direct contact with birds that are sick or have died unexpectedly.
Where the risk cannot be eliminated, it must be minimised. If there is a risk that people will be in contact with birds suspected or confirmed of having avian influenza – please refer to the recommendations from Queensland Health
If you suspect avian influenza in birds or animals, this should be reported immediately to Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23 (business hours)or the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888 (after hours).
Do not handle or remove animals suspected to have avian influenza unless instructed to do so.
General personal hygiene practices
Workers should adopt personal hygiene practices.
- Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before eating, drinking and smoking, before and after contact with birds, after contact with bird droppings and contaminated equipment and after removing personal protective equipment (PPE).
- If using a waterless hand sanitiser, make sure it contains an alcohol content of at least 60 percent, use only on visibly clean hands and wash your hands with soap and water at the first opportunity.
- Cover cuts and other breaks in the skin with a clean, dry dressing.
- Do not eat, drink or smoke around birds and their droppings.
- Wear clean work clothes and footwear.
- Keep birds away from your face.
Workers must be provided with adequate washing facilities (PDF, 0.57 MB). This should include clean running water, soap and paper towel or an air hand dryer. Field workers should be provided with portable hand washing facilities. Workers must also be provided with first aid facilities and should be instructed to clean and cover bird bites and scratches should these occur.
Information, training, instruction and supervision
Provide workers with information about:
- health risks from work with birds
- how to recognise, report and manage sick and infected birds
- safe work procedures
- hand washing practices.
Related links and contacts
- Report to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888
- Avian influenza (bird flu)|Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
- Avian influenza | Business Queensland
- Avian influenza in humans (bird flu) | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
- High pathogenicity avian influenza | Wildlife Health Australia
- Avian influenza in wild birds in Australia factsheet
- Wildlife Health Australia HPAI risk mitigation toolboxes.