A new suspected case of H5N1 bird flu has been reported in a migratory giant petrel found in Western Australia.

The WA Government said on Friday that the bird was one of five dead petrels spotted by a member of the public on Roses Beach, 30 kilometres west of Esperance.

Samples from the birds were tested by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, with one returning a suspect preliminary positive result for H5 influenza.

“Samples have been sent to CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness to confirm the results and determine if it is the H5 bird flu strain of concern,” a statement said.

WA already has two confirmed cases of H5N1 in migratory seabirds – a brown skua and giant petrel found in the same area – with results still pending on a further suspected case in a giant petrel at Quindalup in the state’s south west.

It was revealed on Wednesday that tests had confirmed a giant petrel found on South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula had also tested positive for the virus.

At the time, South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said the bird had travelled to the state via Antarctica.

“It’s very, very important now that we have received a positive result from South Australia… people are very aware that they can report any signs of bird life that is unwell or dead. They can do that through our hotline,” he said.

The WA Government said that since June 19, there had been 375 reports to its Emergency Animal Disease hotline, with 43 of those prioritised for further investigation and testing based on the risk of H5 bird flu.

“There is no suggestion any of these additional reports will be H5 bird flu,” it said.

“There are no detections in poultry and no evidence of large-scale deaths in any wildlife.”

Anyone who sees sick or dead birds or marine mammals is advised not to handle them but to contact the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.