07/07/2026
People have been urged not to panic-buy eggs as more cases of bird flu are detected across the country. The deadly H5 strain appears to have reached NSW, as concerns grow for local wildlife populations and the poultry sector. The H5N1 bird flu was detected in preliminary testing in a migratory bird on the NSW Mid-North Coast, as the state ramps up its surveillance. Further testing is expected to confirm the case, which authorities say comes as no surprise. It follows five confirmed H5 cases in seabirds in Western Australia and South Australia, along with another suspected case detected in a migratory bird in Perth. While the virus can be deadly for animals, the risk to humans is generally considered low both in terms of transmission and health impact, Chief Veterinary Officer of NSW Jo Coombe told reporters.
