[REVISION HISTORY]

H5N1 bird flu spreads to mammals and expands in Australia

Updated 28 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-09-17 04:18 UTC → 2026-09-19 00:53 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The H5N1 bird flu outbreak continues to expand across Australia, affecting both wild bird populations and mammals. In South Australia, the first confirmed case in an endangered Australian sea lion was detected at Seal Bay on Kangaroo Island. ~~Environment Minister Emily Bourke reported that a sea lion died from the virus following a shark attack.~~ This follows a previous death of a long-nosed fur seal in August. ~~To bolster resilience, officials~~ Recent mammalian detections have ~~vaccinated over 400 seal pups against hookworm~~ expanded to include red foxes in metropolitan Adelaide and ~~are trapping feral cats~~ Normanville, as well as a common dolphin at Goolwa. While H5N1 has been detected in various mammals globally, Australian authorities report no current evidence of mammal-to-mammal transmission within the ~~area~~ country. Researchers are prioritizing genomic analysis to ~~mitigate spread.~~ monitor for mutations that could indicate adaptation to mammalian hosts. In New South Wales, recent detections include Greater Crested Terns in Forster, Randwick, Cronulla, Port Botany, Milton, Berry, and Kiama, as well as a Myna in Berry. These findings bring the total number of H5 events in NSW to 40, with 542 reported across Australia. Environment Minister Penny Sharpe noted the virus poses a serious challenge to native bird populations. While the risk to human health remains low and no cases have been detected in commercial poultry or captive birds in the state, veterinary experts have warned that cats are particularly susceptible to the ~~strain, which~~ strain. Dr. Keith McKellar Stewart of Mittagong Veterinary Hospital noted the virus can ~~cause~~ attack the nervous system, causing seizures, blindness, or ~~death.~~ death, with mortality rates estimated as high as 70 per cent. In Victoria, the Mornington Peninsula has reached 24 cases, including detections in the City of Frankston involving species such as silver gulls, Australasian gannets, and a little penguin. ~~Authorities continue to advise the public to avoid contact with sick or dead birds and urge pet owners to keep cats contained and dogs on leashes to prevent contact with infected wildlife.~~

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