14/08/2026
🐦 IMPORTANT: BIRD FLU & SICK BIRDS
With H5 bird flu now detected in Tasmania, we are asking our local community to please NOT bring sick or injured birds to our clinic unless specifically directed to do so by our team.
Our hospital does not currently have the dedicated isolation facilities required to safely manage wild birds that may be carrying avian influenza. Bringing a potentially infected bird into a veterinary hospital can put other patients, staff and the wider community at risk.
🚨 What should you do if you find a sick or dead wild bird?
AVOID touching or picking up the bird.
Instead:
📍 Record the location and what you have seen
📸 Take photos or video from a safe distance if possible
🐕 Keep dogs, cats and other pets away from the bird
📞 Call the 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888
This applies to wild birds, backyard chickens, ducks, aviary birds and other domestic or kept birds, as well as other animals showing signs that could be consistent with bird flu.
🦠 Why are we being so careful?
Avian influenza is primarily a disease of birds, but the virus can also infect other animals, including mammals such as cats. Human infection is rare, and the current risk to people in Australia is considered low, but infection can occur following close contact with infected animals.
For this reason, please don't handle sick or dead birds yourself and don't allow your pets to investigate or eat them.
If you have found a bird that needs help, the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline is the appropriate first point of contact at this time:
📞 1800 675 888 — available 24/7
Please help us protect our patients, staff, wildlife and the wider community by calling the hotline rather than bringing potentially affected birds into the clinic. ❤️🐦
For more information, visit the Tasmanian Government's H5 Bird Flu information page.
https://nre.tas.gov.au/biosecurity-tasmania/animal-biosecurity/animal-health/poultry-and-pigeons/bird-flu
