Australia’s Status

Australia has had several outbreaks of highly pathogenic Avian Influenza since 1976, the most recent of which occurred in early 2025. On each occasion, outbreaks are brought rapidly under control through Australia’s emergency animal disease response protocols and arrangements to support its eradication. 

Surveillance for Avian Influenza in Wild Birds

Because wild birds can carry Avian Influenza viruses and therefore have the potential to be a source of infection for the commercial poultry sector, there is a national wild bird surveillance program for Avian Influenza managed through Wildlife Health Australia. This program keeps track of what types of Avian Influenza viruses are circulating in Australia’s wild birds.

Human Transmission

It is extremely rare for strains of Avian Influenza virus that cause disease in poultry to also cause disease in humans. 

However, some strains of H5 and H7 Avian Influenza viruses found overseas have been able to occasionally infect people, but this is rare, and requires very close physical interaction with infected birds. The Avian Influenza virus does not infect humans easily, and it does not transmit efficiently from person to person. The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that the likelihood of sustained human-to-human transmission of these viruses remains low.

Chicken Meat is Safe

Regardless of whether Avian Influenza exists, chicken meat is safe to eat if it is cooked properly.

The Australian Department of Health, the World Health Organisation and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) have confirmed that avian influenza is not a food safety issue and does not affect the food chain in this country.

Avian influenza does not survive cooking temperatures. Furthermore, Australia’s emergency disease response protocols ensure that if there is an Avian Influenza outbreak in Australian commercial chicken flocks, that the risk of infected chicken meat entering the market is negligible.