The detection of H5 bird flu in Victoria is incredibly worrying and Wildlife Victoria is working closely with the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) to understand the implications this will have on our Emergency Response Service, veterinary staff, and the work of our volunteers across the state.
We’ve seen the impact this strain of avian influenza has had on species internationally, and we’re deeply concerned about our precious native wildlife, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. The best hope we have for navigating this outbreak is to work together.
We want to commend the Victorian community who have been on alert and reporting suspected cases across the state since H5 bird flu was first detected on mainland Australia. We encourage the public to remain vigilant and to continue to report any suspected cases to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.