Western Australia reports first suspected H5 bird flu case as seal die‑off hits sub‑Antarctic islands

A brown skua found near Esperance in Western Australia tested positive for avian influenza, prompting authorities to quarantine the bird and send samples to the CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness for confirmation of the H5 strain. State Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis and Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said the case is being treated seriously, noted there is no evidence of infection in poultry or mass bird mortality, and highlighted extensive national preparedness, including more than $100 million invested in surveillance and response capacity.

In the sub‑Antarctic Australian external territories, researchers have confirmed that the H5N1 virus caused a severe outbreak on Heard and McDonald Islands, killing roughly 13,000 southern elephant seal pups – about 75 % of the breeding cohort – and also affecting king and gentoo penguins, Antarctic fur seals and other seabirds. Drone surveys and ground sampling in late 2025 and early 2026 identified the virus in six wildlife species, with the outbreak likely introduced via migrating birds from the French‑owned Crozet Islands. The government has imposed quarantine measures, continues monitoring, and stresses that human risk remains very low.