'We are surrounded': Australia prepares for 'deadly virus' expected on shores soon

Not Greg Brown.

The Canberra egg farmer is preparing for a very deadly virus that has travelled the world and now sits on the country's doorstep.

Authorities expect the uncontainable and highly lethal H5 bird flu strain to fly in not by plane, but by bird.

ACT Environment Minister Suzanne Orr warned that besides crippling farmers and disrupting food supply chains, it could be the end of some native animals.

"There are genuine fears that already endangered species could be wiped out," she said on Thursday.

"We are surrounded by the deadly virus".

Authorities curbed the H7 bird flu last year by culling 1.8 million birds, ten per cent of the country's laying hens.

They say there is no way of controlling the H5 strain.

Humans have contracted the virus but most worked closely with infected animals and there is no evidence it can transfer between people.

A large number of mammals, including cats, dogs, goats, pigs, dolphins and tigers, have been infected.

Species most likely to catch H5 are those living in groups or around water, and scavengers, Ms Orr said.

"Some of our most beloved and recognisable Canberran fauna will likely fall into this highly susceptible category, including birds such as black swans, ducks, magpies, and the wedge-tailed eagle," she said.

"Impacts of bird flu on marsupials and monotremes, like possums, quolls and platypus, are poorly known."

Threatened wetland birds like Latham's Snipe and the Little Eagle, and scavenging animals such as dingoes and quolls, are particularly susceptible.

Mr Brown's farm, Farmer Brown Eggs in Canberra, was quarantined for three months during the H7 bird flu outbreak last year.

If one hen was infected, he would have had to kill them all and likely shut the business for good.

Mr Brown's 2000 hens are pastured, meaning they live outdoors. There are less than 100 hens to a hectare.

They have a higher risk of being in contact with wild birds but the farmer hopes they will be more resilient.

"Our birds tend to be less stressed, so their immune system would be stronger. So hopefully they may have more of a chance of not catching it," Mr Brown said.

It is likely that if just one tests positive to H5, he will have to cull the entire flock.

"Dealing with that mass disruption and death is a big, plus highly emotional plus highly financially impacting," he said.

Mr Brown said he is making sure there is no food, water or other things attracting wild birds to the property.

"In a free range environment, all we can do is try to discourage wild birds from hanging out directly with our hens," he said/

Caged and barned hens, and many free-range ones, live indoors in close proximity.

Risks for those businesses may include the infiltration of infected wild birds and rodents and easy transmission between birds.

H5 bird flu was detected on islands less than 500km away from Australia late last year. It may arrive in spring or summer when millions of birds migrate south.

Australia's Threatened Species Commissioner Fiona Fraser said there will be no way to prevent the spread of H5 bird flu when it reaches Australia's shores.

"We will not be able to eradicate it in nature, but what we can do is build the resilience of our native populations," she said.

That is not by addressing the virus itself, but trying to eliminate other threats to wildlife to improve their chances of surviving.

"That involves getting rid of invasive rodents on islands, it involves removing feral cats, foxes, removing weeds across a lot of our islands and wetland areas," Dr Fraser said.

Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said the Commonwealth had invested $100 million into preparing for the flu, including $12 million for state and territories and some money to zoos and aquariums to improve biosecurity systems.

The government encourages anyone who witnesses suspicious animal illness or death contact the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.