Australia confirms first H5N1 bird‑flu case in wild seabird

Australia has confirmed its first case of the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in a wild seabird. The bird, a brown‑tailed shorebird found near Esperance in Western Australia’s Cape Le Grand National Park, tested positive for the virus, prompting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to describe the finding as “concerning” and pledge that the government will do “everything we can to limit any spread.”

Agriculture Minister Julie Collins noted that there is no evidence of mass mortality among poultry or the broader agricultural sector and that human infection with this strain remains rare. The virus has driven the death of hundreds of millions of birds worldwide, disrupting food supplies and driving up prices. Australian authorities have stepped up bio‑security measures, including heightened testing of coastal birds, vaccination of vulnerable species and drills for emergency response plans.