Why a suspected Australian H5 bird flu case could be 'deeply concerning'

Scientists collect organic material during a bird flu outbreak in Brazil. (Reuters: Diego Vara)

For years Australia has remained the last continent to avoid the deadly H5 strain of avian influenza.

The bird flu case was located in Western Australia's Cape Le Grand beach on June 14, and confirmed on June 20.

WA's Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis said the brown skua seabird died while in isolation.

"I'm told it is not normal for them to be on the south coast of Western Australia," Ms Jarvis said.

"But I am also told it's not uncommon if a bird is sick to actually be sort of blown off course, as it were."

The diseased bird was identified as a brown skua seabird. (Getty Images: DeAgostini )

It has now returned a suspected positive result for the H5 influenza.

The Australian mainland had been the last continent free of this deadly strain of bird flu.

It was detected on the remote Australian territories of Heard Island and McDonald Islands in October last year.

Federal Agricultural Minister Julie Collins said it was expected the strain would eventually hit Australia.

"If it is confirmed to be the H5 bird flu this will be sobering but not unexpected, given the spread globally," she said on Friday, before the positive result was confirmed on Saturday.

"I want to reassure the public that we're well placed to respond to and to manage this situation."

This includes $113 million towards preparedness measures, the minister said.

From here, state and territory leaders will meet to discuss the next steps, including increased surveillance.

Ms Collins said on Saturday there was no evidence of any mass mortalities in Australia, nor any evidence of infection in poultry.

H5N1 has spread around the world, while Australia had remained free of the deadly strain. (ABC News: Peter Mullins)

Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is a highly contagious virus that affects bird species and can spread to other species, including humans.

Just like human influenza, there are many types of bird flu and they can all have different effects on wild birds, poultry and other animals.

Scientists are racing to get crucial population data on penguins and other seabirds before the deadly H5 strain of bird flu impacts the Australian Antarctic Territory.

Avian influenza viruses can be classed as high or low pathogenicity, a reference to their potential to kill chickens, not how infectious they are.

The high pathogenicity avian influenza H5N1 was discovered more than 20 years ago, leading to dozens of outbreaks globally since then.

Symptoms in poultry include sudden de