Another suspected H5 bird flu case detected in WA

Another suspected case of the H5 bird flu has been detected in Western Australia, marking the fifth confirmed or suspected case in Australia.

Two cases of the deadly avian influenza have been confirmed so far in migratory seabirds in WA, and one in South Australia.

The new suspected case — found at Roses Beach near Esperance — is still being tested for confirmation, along with another suspected case near Dunsborough announced on Wednesday.

WA Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis said there was still no evidence of any transmission to local wildlife.

"There have been no detections in poultry, and there have been no reports of large scale mortalities," she said.

"A member of the public reported five [giant] petrels on Roses Beach [near Esperance] on Sunday 21st of June.

"Only one of the petrels has returned a suspected positive result for bird flu. The other four birds returned negative results.

"This is encouraging — it means there is no evidence of disease transmission here on the Australian mainland."

Samples from the new suspected case, a petrel common to the subantarctic, have been sent to the CSIRO for further testing.

Relying on surveillance

Authorities have largely been relying on passive surveillance, through public reports of dead or sick birds, to detect cases of the bird flu.

An emergency meeting was convened on Thursday with the Wildlife Emergency Advisory Group to discuss Australia's response to the unfolding situation.

Birdlife Australia migratory shorebirds manager Chris Purnell, who attended the meeting, said passive surveillance was crucial but authorities should be ramping up surveillance in areas where cases have been confirmed.

"Sampling, not only the birds that you find that are sick and dead, but healthy wild populations," he told the ABC.

Dunsborough wildlife carer Sandie Gillard dreaded bird flu reaching her town — a fear realised on Wednesday.

"We've got so many migratory birds that come through here; and our land birds spend so much time in these areas," she said.

"I expect there'll be a lot more than seabirds impacted, which is really sad."

Coming as hundreds of WA magpies are paralysed and killed by a mystery illness, Ms Gillard said the arrival of avian flu could not have come at a worse time.

"Because we can't pick the birds up and keep them comfortable, it's really hard for wildlife carers," she said.