The federal government has downplayed any imminent risk of bird flu reaching Australia despite an unusual number of deaths in elephant seal pups on the sub-Antarctic territory of Heard Island.

Agriculture Minister Julie Collins says samples taken from the seals need to be tested under laboratory conditions to confirm whether the deadly H5 strain was responsible.

"I would reiterate that this is thousands of kilometres south of mainland Australia and is suspected but not yet confirmed," Ms Collins said.

Heard Island is about 4000km southwest of Perth, but seabirds such as albatross and shearwater are capable of covering much greater distances.

The short-tailed shearwater, which breeds in Australia, makes a 15,000km trans-equatorial migration annually.

Ms Collins conceded that the arriva

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