Australia confirms first mainland H5N1 bird flu case

Australia’s agriculture minister Julie Collins announced that a brown skua found dead on a beach in Cape Le Grand National Park, Western Australia, tested positive for the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza strain. The detection marks the first confirmed case of the virus on the Australian mainland, completing its spread to every continent. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the finding “concerning” and pledged all possible measures to contain it.

Federal and state authorities have activated emergency response protocols, including intensified surveillance of wild and domestic birds, strict movement controls on poultry, and heightened bio‑security at farms. No evidence of mass mortality in wildlife or infection in poultry has been reported so far, and the public health risk remains low. The government had previously allocated AUD 113 million for preparedness, and the Threatened Species Commissioner warned that the virus could threaten unique Australian fauna such as the Tasmanian devil and little penguin. Earlier, the H5N1 strain caused the death of more than 13,000 southern elephant seal pups on the sub‑Antarctic Heard and McDonald Islands.