The bird-flu strain has spread through bird and mammal populations worldwide, but not yet reached the island continent.

The Australian government has announced $95 million in measures to combat the looming arrival of a deadly strain of bird flu in the country. Australia is the only continent free of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza,

Australia's government said on Sunday it would spend an extra A$95 million ($64.13 million) to protect against a destructive bird flu strain that has spread through bird and mammal populations worldwide but not yet reached the island continent.

Australia is the only continent yet to detect the highly pathogenic strain which has caused havoc across the globe.

Biosecurity, environmental funding for protected native species and a top-up of the national stockpile of flu vaccines are part of preparations for the arrival of H5N1 to Australia.