The first suspected case of a deadly strain of bird flu that has killed millions of birds and mammals worldwide has been found in Western Australia, the federal government has confirmed.

The H5 avian influenza has never been detected on mainland Australia before — the last continent on Earth without a confirmed case.

Agriculture Minister Julie Collins announced on Friday a bird has died and the initial test was positive for H5N1. Further tests will be performed for confirmation.

Migratory seabird known as brown skua tests positive for avian influenza