Eight H5 cases have been confirmed to date with another four suspected infections found across two states, placing authorities on high alert.
All the cases involve migratory birds but experts have warned Australia must be prepared for the potential "devastating" impact on local wildlife.
''It's extremely nerve‑wracking," Invasive Species Council's Dr Carol Booth told AAP.
"We're very concerned that the next report will be of mainland wildlife being infected."
There was a "bit of room for hope" considering native wildlife had not yet been impacted, she said.
''But given the climbing numbers and the extent of the geographic spread of those cases, it's of great concern,'' she said.
Australian Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Beth Cookson said testing at CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness has confirmed H5 high pathogenicity avian influenza (bird flu) in a sample taken from a giant petrel found near Hardwicke Bay, Yorke Peninsula, South Australia.
This is the eighth detection or presumed positive result of H5 bird flu in migratory seabirds.
The South Australian Government also reported two further suspected positive cases of H5 bird flu in two giant petrels. Samples returned initial positive test results at the state government laboratory, and will now be sent to CSIRO’s ACDP for confirmatory testing.
Dr Cookson said there remains no evidence of any mass mortality events and there are no detections in poultry or in our agricultural production system.
Dr Cookson said the risk to human health remains low.
If you see sick or dead birds or other animals, do not touch them. Avoid contact. Record what you see. Report it to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888 from anywhere in Australia.
Dr Cookson reminded poultry producers on-farm biosecurity practices are crucial to protect the health of their flocks.
For more information, visit birdflu.gov.au
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