H5N1 is a strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly referred to as bird flu. It primarily affects birds, but some strains of the virus can also infect mammals.

Internationally, H5N1 has caused significant disease and mortality among wild birds and has also affected marine mammals, including seals, sea lions and cetaceans.

Yes. H5N1 was first detected on the Australian mainland in June 2026.

ORRCA has been preparing for its arrival through government briefings, preparedness planning and the development of enhanced biosecurity and response protocols.

Current advice is that the risk to the general public remains low.

However, unnecessary contact with sick or dead wildlife should always be avoided. Appropriate hygiene, personal protective equipment and biosecurity precautions are particularly important for people whose work may bring them into closer proximity to wildlife.

Anyone seeking health advice relating to a possible exposure should follow current government and public health guidance.

Yes. H5N1 has infected marine mammals overseas, including seals and sea lions, and has caused significant mortality in some wildlife populations.

ORRCA's position is that we should prepare for the likelihood that H5N1 may affect marine mammals in NSW. Exactly how the virus may behave within Australian marine mammal populations, and the scale of any potential impact, cannot yet be predicted.

Not currently. There are presently no commercially available H5 bird flu vaccines suitable or authorised for use in mammals in Australia. Australian authorities are closely following international research, including vaccine trials involving mammals in the United States, so this may change as research develops.

Australia has begun targeted vaccination of some vulnerable native bird species, but vaccinating free-ranging wildlife presents significant practical challenges and vaccination is not considered feasible as a broad-scale strategy in wild populations.

For marine mammals, the current focus remains on surveillance, early detection, biosecurity and reducing opportunities for disease transmission. ORRCA's role is therefore centred on safely identifying and reporting animals of concern, sharing information with the appropriate authorities, and ensuring our responders follow appropriate PPE and biosecurity protocols.

Symptoms can vary, and these signs do not necessarily mean an animal has H5N1. Many illnesses, injuries and other conditions can cause similar symptoms.

Signs identified in marine mammals can include:

• tremors, twitching or seizures
  
• difficulty coordinating movements
  
• unusual or erratic swimming, including swimming in circles
  
• difficulty moving normally on land
  paralysis or inability to stand
  
• an unusually twisted or tilted head or neck
  
• rapid, laboured or open-mouth breathing
  
• coughing, sneezing or wheezing
  discharge or foam from the nose or mouth
  
• severe lethargy or unresponsiveness
  disorientation or unusual behaviour
  
• diarrhoea
  
• swelling or other abnormalities around the eyes
  

A diagnosis cannot be made simply by observing an animal. If you are concerned, keep your distance and report what you see.

Follow the official Avoid, Record, Report approach.

Avoid contact with sick or dead wildlife. Observe the animal from a safe distance and keep children and pets away.

Record what you see. Note the animal's location and behaviour and, if it is safe to do so, take photographs or video from a distance.

Report the animal promptly to ORRCA on our 24/7 Rescue Hotline (02) 9415 333 so the appropriate response can be coordinated. if you believe the animal is displaying symptoms consistent with H5N1 specifically, also report immediately to the EAD hotline on 1800 675 888.

Do not approach, touch, feed, move or attempt to return the animal to the water.

Yes.

ORRCA remains a 24/7 marine mammal rescue organisation and will continue responding to reports involving whales, dolphins, seals and dugongs.

The presence of H5N1 does not mean marine mammal rescue stops. Instead, incidents will be risk-assessed and responders will work within appropriate biosecurity protocols and official government guidance.

Our role also gives ORRCA an important opportunity to contribute observations, surveillance information and incident data that can assist authorities in understanding what is occurring within marine mammal populations.

Yes. Absolutely.

ORRCA continues to operate its 24/7 Marine Mammal Rescue Hotline and people should continue to report:

• seal haul-outs
  
• injured or entangled seals
  
• stranded dolphins or whales
  
• whale entanglements
  
• injured or distressed marine mammals
  
• any other marine mammal incident requiring assessment.
  

Call the ORRCA Rescue Hotline on (02) 9415 3333.

H5N1 does not mean that every animal on a beach is sick, nor does it mean people should stop reporting marine mammals.

Our Rescue Hotline team will gather information to help assess the situation. This may include:

• the animal's exact location
  
• species, where known
  
• whether the animal is alive or deceased
  
• its behaviour and condition
  
• photographs or video taken from a safe distance
  
• any visible injuries, entanglement or unusual symptoms.
  

That information allows our Rescue Coordinators and senior response personnel to assess the incident, determine the appropriate response and, where necessary, escalate concerns to the relevant government authorities.

Please do not approach the animal to obtain better photos or information.

If you find deceased wildlife, or a seal or other animal displaying signs that may be consistent with H5N1, do not approach or touch the animal.

These reports should be made directly to the Emergency Animal Disease (EAD) hotline on 1800 675 888, in accordance with official government reporting advice.

You can also contact ORRCA regarding marine mammal incidents. Where concerns potentially consistent with H5N1 are identified through our hotline or incident response network, ORRCA will escalate the information to the appropriate authorities.

No.

The safety of our rescue members and the public remains ORRCA's highest priority. ORRCA responders will not be required to handle or come into contact with a marine mammal displaying signs consistent with H5N1.

Where a potential H5N1 concern is identified, the incident will be managed and escalated in accordance with the appropriate government response arrangements.

No.

Seals regularly come ashore to rest, particularly after spending significant periods feeding at sea. A seal simply hauling out and resting is not a sign of H5N1.

Continue to observe the normal exclusion distance and report the seal to ORRCA so our team can record the sighting and assess any welfare concerns.

If the animal is displaying abnormal neurological, respiratory or behavioural signs, report those observations when you call.

No.

Do not touch, move, restrain, feed or attempt to refloat a sick or stranded marine mammal unless specifically directed by authorised wildlife responders.

Apart from the risk of injury to both you and the animal, contact with sick wildlife may expose people, pets or other animals to infectious disease.

The safest and most useful thing you can do is observe from a distance, record the location and behaviour, and report the animal immediately.

ORRCA has been actively preparing for H5N1 through:

• participation in government preparedness planning and briefings
  
• updating guidance and instructions for our rescue teams
  
• implementing enhanced biosecurity protocols
  
• establishing appropriate PPE requirements
  
• educating responders about signs potentially associated with H5N1
  
• strengthening decontamination and hygiene procedures
  
• ensuring suspected cases can be rapidly escalated through the appropriate channels
  
• continuing surveillance and information gathering through our 24/7 Rescue Hotline and incident response network.
  

Our biosecurity procedures are built around the principle of "Come Clean, Go Clean," reducing the risk of responders bringing contaminants into an incident site or carrying contaminants away that could affect people, pets or other wildlife.

ORRCA has established risk-based PPE and biosecurity requirements for marine mammal incidents.

Depending on the assessed risk, this can include P2/N95 respiratory protection, gloves, protective footwear, eye protection and additional protective equipment. Our protocols also include procedures for correctly putting on and removing PPE, cleaning and disinfecting reusable equipment and safely disposing of contaminated materials.

Higher-risk incidents require additional training and approval and are subject to enhanced biosecurity and decontamination procedures.

Biosecurity protects more than the individual responder.

Good biosecurity practices help reduce the risk of infectious material being transferred between wildlife, people, pets, vehicles, equipment and different locations.

ORRCA's procedures therefore focus on both arriving at an incident with clean equipment and leaving without carrying contaminants away from the site.

Because the H5N1 situation can change, ORRCA encourages people to refer to the latest advice issued by Australian and NSW government animal health and public health authorities.

ORRCA will continue updating our own guidance and response procedures as official advice develops.