H5 bird flu has arrived in Australian wild birds and biosecurity expectations across the poultry sector have stepped up accordingly. This page sets out where the situation currently sits according to official sources, and where dosing and dispensing equipment fits into a farm biosecurity program. It is general information only. For guidance that applies to your operation, follow the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), your state or territory department of primary industries, and Farm Biosecurity.
Where things stand
As at 5 August 2026, DAFF reports 101 confirmed detections of H5 bird flu in wild seabirds in Australia. There have been no detections in poultry or the wider agriculture industry, and the risk to human health remains low.
On 3 August 2026 the Australian Government confirmed Australia’s first mass mortality event linked to H5 bird flu, at Baudin Rocks Island off the South Australian coast, where aerial surveillance located 49 dead and 35 sick greater crested terns. This is the kind of wildlife impact seen overseas as the strain has spread, and it is a reminder that the situation is moving.
Australia’s first detection of the H5N1 strain occurred in June 2026, in a vagrant migratory seabird on an isolated beach in Cape Le Grand National Park on the southern coast of Western Australia. Detections have since been confirmed in Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. The strain of concern is HPAI H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b, commonly referred to as H5 bird flu, which has spread globally through wild bird movements and has caused significant wildlife mortality overseas.
These figures change, and they have changed quickly. Check the DAFF bird flu page for the current position before relying on any number on this page.
What has changed for producers
The practical change is not an outbreak in poultry. It is the level of preparedness now expected of producers. The Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Diseases (CCEAD) has endorsed a national framework on poultry biosecurity measures which commenced on 31 July 2026. Under that framework, state and territory governments issue biosecurity advice using a risk based approach, and are responsible for surveillance and response activities on the ground.
In practice, that means a large number of operations are auditing their biosecurity setup now, ahead of any problem. Three areas come up repeatedly in those audits, and all three involve equipment: how vehicles are managed at the farm entry, whether medication delivery equipment is accurate and serviceable, and how sheds and equipment are cleaned between batches.
Vehicle sanitising at the farm entry
Farm to farm transmission through vehicle and equipment movement is one of the pathways receiving the most attention. A written entry protocol is only as good as its execution, and execution is where most entry procedures fall down: the process varies depending on who is at the gate, how busy the day is and what equipment is at hand.
The DSA VSS Pro gives farms a dedicated vehicle sanitising station at the entry point. It applies an approved sanitising chemical at the correct dilution to vehicles before they come onto the property, using the same water driven proportional dosing principle as the rest of our range. The value is repeatability. The chemical goes on at the label rate, the same way, every vehicle, every time, without anyone having to mix anything by hand.
Inline water medication
Inline water medication has never been more important, and demand reflects that. We have seen strong uptake of replacement units across the AquaBlend, Chemilizer and Tefen MixRite ranges as operators replace medicators that are past their useful life. We have also seen a clear increase in requests for preventative maintenance and repairs on existing medicators.
The reason is straightforward. A medicator that has drifted out of calibration delivers a concentration other than the one intended, and you generally will not know until you need it to work. Worn seals, pistons and injectors all move the dose rate, and none of them announce themselves.
Our wet lab was built for exactly this. Units are run and performance checked under live water conditions before they go back to you, so you know what you are getting rather than assuming. All water medication should be administered under the direction of your veterinarian and in accordance with the product label and applicable withholding periods.
Spraying, foaming and sanitising equipment
Alongside the medication side, DSA supplies the Lafferty range of spraying, foaming and sanitising equipment for shed and facility cleaning. These units draw concentrate through the water line, dilute it proportionally, and apply it as either a spray or a clinging foam.
| Label rate dilution, every time Chemical is diluted by the equipment rather than by hand, so it is applied at the rate the label specifies. |
Foam holds contact time Foam clings to walls, ceilings and equipment, keeping the chemical in contact with the surface for the contact time the label requires. |
| Faster coverage Large shed areas can be covered quickly by a single operator, which matters when turnaround between batches is tight. |
Less handling and less waste Reduced manual decanting and mixing, and no cost wasted on over concentration. |
Clean down between batches is only as good as the chemical delivery behind it. Getting that part right is what DSA does.
An important limit on what equipment does
Dosing, sanitising and dispensing equipment applies approved chemicals at an accurate and consistent dilution rate. That is its function and that is the whole of its function. Equipment does not of itself prevent, control or eliminate avian influenza or any other disease. Whether a given chemical is effective against a given pathogen is determined by that chemical’s registration and label directions, not by the equipment applying it.
Biosecurity is a system: movement controls, hygiene protocols, wild bird exclusion, monitoring and reporting. Equipment supports parts of that system. It does not replace it.
Where to get official guidance
For current information on the H5 bird flu situation and the biosecurity measures that apply to your operation:
| Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry National coordination and the current detection figures, at agriculture.gov.au. |
Your state or territory authority Responsible for issuing biosecurity advice and for surveillance and response on the ground. |
| Farm Biosecurity Practical on farm biosecurity planning resources for producers, at farmbiosecurity.com.au. |
Emergency Animal Disease Hotline Report sick or dead birds and other animals showing signs of disease on 1800 675 888. |
If you see sick or dead birds, do not touch them or get too close. Record the location and report it.
Frequently asked questions
Has H5 bird flu been detected in Australian poultry?
As at 5 August 2026, DAFF reports no detections of H5 bird flu in poultry or the wider agriculture industry in Australia. Confirmed detections to date have been in wild seabirds, with 101 confirmed as at that date. Check the DAFF bird flu page for the current position, as this changes.
Does disinfection or sanitising equipment prevent bird flu?
No. Dosing and sanitising equipment applies approved chemicals at an accurate and consistent dilution rate. It does not of itself prevent, control or eliminate avian influenza or any other disease. Efficacy against a pathogen is determined by the chemical used and its label directions. Equipment supports a biosecurity program, it does not replace one.
What changed for poultry producers on 31 July 2026?
The Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Diseases endorsed a national framework on poultry biosecurity measures which commenced on 31 July 2026. Under the framework, state and territory governments issue biosecurity advice using a risk based approach and are responsible for surveillance and response activities on the ground.
How does a vehicle sanitising station work?
A vehicle sanitising station applies a diluted sanitising chemical to vehicles at the farm entry point before they come onto the property. Water driven proportional units such as the DSA VSS Pro draw concentrate into the water line and dilute it at a set rate, so the chemical is applied at its label rate consistently without manual mixing.
How often should a medicator be serviced?
Servicing frequency depends on water quality, chemical type and hours of use, but any medicator that has not been performance checked recently should be tested before it is relied upon. Worn seals, pistons and injectors shift the dose rate without any obvious external sign. DSA performance tests units under live water conditions in a dedicated wet lab.
Which medicators does DSA supply and service?
DSA supplies and services water driven medicators and dosing pumps across the AquaBlend, Chemilizer, Tefen MixRite and Dosmatic ranges, along with spare parts and seal kits. Browse the full product range.
Who do I report suspected bird flu to in Australia?
Report multiple sick or dead birds or other animals showing signs of disease to the 24 hour Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888. Do not touch or approach sick or dead birds.
Talk to DSA about your biosecurity equipment
Whether it is a vehicle sanitising station at the entry, a replacement medicator, a service on the units you already have, or foaming equipment for shed clean down, our team can work through what suits your operation.
