Australian Seabird and Turtle Rescue is urging people to stay alert after New South Wales recorded its first case of H5 bird flu in a migratory seabird.

A spokesperson for Australian Seabird and Turtle Rescue in Ballina is urging people to stay alert, not alarmed, following the detection of New South Wales’ first case of H5 bird flu.

The virus was detected in a migratory giant petrel at Hawks Nest, about 580 kilometres south of Ballina, prompting increased surveillance and biosecurity measures across the state.

Australian Seabird and Turtle Rescue vet nurse Hazel McCallum said the organisation was closely watching the situation.

“We are monitoring and observing what happens in the next few weeks,” she said.

“We are not 100 per cent concerned at this stage but all staff and volunteers are taking all necessary precautions.”

Ms McCallum said staff and volunteers had met several times to ensure everyone understood the response should more cases be detected.

“We have had quite a few meetings of staff and volunteers to make sure everyone is across it,” she said.

She urged the public not to handle sick or dead birds.

“It can be really devastating and we have seen populations get really hammered by this,” she said.

Members of the public should avoid contact with sick or dead wildlife, keep pets away, record the animal’s location and, if safe, take photos or video before reporting unusual illness or deaths to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

The NSW Government says there is no evidence the virus has spread to local wildlife, commercial poultry flocks or captive birds, with the detection limited to a single migratory seabird. The risk to human health remains low and there is no impact on the supply of chicken meat or eggs.

The state has activated its H5 Bird Flu Response Plan, advising commercial poultry producers to strengthen biosecurity and, where practical, voluntarily house free-range birds. Drone and ground surveillance has also been increased in high-risk areas while more than 500 trained government staff have been deployed to support the response.

NSW Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said there was no impact on the supply of chicken meat or eggs.

“There is no impact on the supply of chicken meat or eggs and I would encourage everyone to purchase these products as they normally would,” she said.

There have been six confirmed H5 bird flu cases in Australia, including one in NSW, four in Western Australia and one in South Australia.