Australia poorly prepared for deadly avian flu that kills millions of wild birds, experts warn

UK notices about avian flu along the River Thames in February 2023. Australia has been warned it is not prepared for the HPAI H5 influenza. Photograph: Maureen McLean/Rex/Shutterstock

Conservationists have warned Australia is poorly prepared for the potential arrival of a deadly form of avian influenza that has killed millions of birds and thousands of mammals overseas.

When HPAI H5 (high pathogenicity avian influenza of subtype H5) arrived in South America late last year it killed more than 60,000 seabirds and 3,500 sea lions within weeks in Peru alone.