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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteThe botulism explanation in the original 2021 warning is not established as the cause of the magpie paralysis syndrome now being investigated in Western Australia. Wildlife Health Australia says the cause is unknown, and an ABC News report on 19 May 2026 said researchers had ruled out botulism and avian influenza among the notifiable diseases they investigated. If you see a sick magpie, call Wildcare before touching or moving it.
Is magpie paralysis in WA caused by botulism?
That has not been established. A PerthNow report published on 9 February 2021 described the paralysis as a type of botulism. That was the explanation reported at the time, not a confirmed diagnosis of the ongoing syndrome. The current Wildlife Health Australia incident notice says, “The cause of the syndrome is currently unknown”. ABC News reported on 19 May 2026 that researchers had ruled out botulism and avian influenza among the notifiable diseases they investigated, while possibilities including viruses, toxins and parasites remained under investigation.
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It is also not yet established whether Western Australian cases are the same as the “Black and white” bird neurological syndrome first described in eastern Australia. The evidence does not establish a cause, transmission route, prevention method or treatment protocol for the WA syndrome.
What signs have been reported?
Reported signs include weakness, difficulty standing or coordinating movement, paralysis, inability to lift the head and trouble flying. WA Wildlife Hospital veterinary manager Meg Rodgers told ABC News: “Typically they are paralysed or unable to move their legs or very weak.” These signs describe what observers have seen; they cannot tell a member of the public what caused a bird’s condition.
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What should you do if you find a sick magpie?
- Keep your distance. Do not touch or move the bird. Keep children and pets away.
- Call Wildcare before attempting to handle it: (08) 9474 9055. Wildcare can advise on injured or orphaned wildlife.
- Note where and when you saw it. Record the location and, if safe, take a photo or video without approaching the bird.
WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development guidance for sick or dead wild birds also advises recording the species, number of birds, location, date and time, and taking a photo if possible. Its bird-flu reporting advice is available at the WA government’s sick and dead wild bird guidance, last updated 25 September 2026.
Who should you call about a sick or dead bird?
- Sick or injured magpie, or orphaned wildlife: Wildcare, 9474 9055. Call before touching or moving the animal.
- Suspected bird flu: the 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease Hotline, 1800 675 888. Follow the state’s guidance to avoid contact and keep pets and children away.
For any sick or dead wild bird, the state advises avoiding contact and noting the species, number, location, date and time; a photo can help if taken safely.
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What do the reported case numbers show?
ABC News reported WA Wildlife Hospital figures of 500 sick or dying magpies with the syndrome in the year before its 19 May 2026 report, and another 500 in the previous season. The hospital’s veterinary manager said about half of the birds it treated died. These are hospital case and treatment figures, not a statewide incidence or mortality estimate.
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In the same season, local carers reported 23 confirmed and 20 suspected paralysis cases in Dunsborough. Those local reports are not statewide totals. Murdoch University scientist Flaminia Coiacetto told ABC News, “We definitely have not given up,” as researchers continued investigating the cause.
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Is this the same as human botulism?
No conclusion about the bird syndrome should be drawn from human botulism guidance. HealthyWA describes human botulism as rare but serious and advises people with symptoms to go directly to a hospital emergency department. The available investigation does not establish botulism as the cause of the magpie syndrome, and the cited sources do not quantify any human risk from handling affected birds. Avoid contact and use the reporting advice above.
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