17/08/2026
My homework so far on the H5N1 bird flu. Hope its helpful! Sharon Ellis 💞
The mammals most susceptible seem to be cats and foxes (through predation and scavenging), marine mammals, and dairy cattle. Ill try to stick with information that is relevant to our area.
Cats have been known to contract the virus and can have severe symptoms resulting in high mortality rates.
Dairy cattle can contract the virus and this impacts milk production. It is spread easily via contaminated milking equipment.
Pigs, sheep and horses have previously been a much lower risk to this disease in comparison to cattle.
Dogs have been largely resistant with mild symptoms. Infection is very rare.
We are not sure of the impact this virus could have on our native species as they have not had any history of exposure in the past.
Our risk level to our domestic animals is currently very low. However, this situation could change. Some things we can do at home which are good for our animals regardless of the bird flu include:
- regularly checking your animals water supply and refreshing it often. Remove any dead birds (use a net, do not touch deceased or sick birds) and if not suspicious for bird flu (for example one drowned bird in a large trough compared to 20 dead birds in and surrounding the trough) then safely dispose of the carcass.
- keeping feed bins, chaff and hay under cover - this can be under tarps, in enclosed feed bins or drums, inside shipping containers etc. This will also help with mice!! We have tarp over our hay for the rain, but this also helps with birds flying over as a potential source of contamination. We have drums of chaff and feed for horses and goats that have lids on them that are also in a lockable shipping container (we dont like mice!).
- be vigilant. Go for a little walk around the horse paddock or your backyard and take note of what birds are hanging around. First, its lovely to see little bird families interacting and doing their thing, and second if you know whats normal for your place, then if there is something off it is easier to recognise.