Bird flu cases rise across Australia in multiple regions

Confirmed cases of H5 bird flu continue to rise across various regions in Australia. On the Mornington Peninsula, cases have reached 24, with three detections recorded in the City of Frankston. The virus has been identified in several species, including greater crested terns, silver gulls, Australasian gannets, black-faced cormorants, and a little penguin.

In South Australia, Premier Peter Malinauskas announced a third H5 case involving a giant petrel found at Knights Beach on the Fleurieu Peninsula. Authorities noted the bird likely arrived from the Antarctic or sub-Antarctic region. This follows previous detections in Western Australia involving a brown skua and a northern giant petrel near Esperance.

While investigators are probing potential links between these cases, the Australian Center for Disease Preparedness suggests the Western Australian detections were likely separate introductions rather than local spread. Health officials continue to monitor wildlife, particularly in critical habitats like Western Port Bay, which supports a significant portion of Victoria’s threatened bird species.