What changed
2026-08-03 00:59 UTC → 2026-08-05 01:27 UTC ·
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Surveillance of highly pathogenic Since the first mainland detections in mid‑2026, H5N1 avian influenza has continued to spread across Australian states and into nearby New Zealand. New South Wales reported its first case on 3 July, bringing the national tally to six confirmed infections in Australia three states. By 7 July officials confirmed local transmission among wild seabirds, shorebirds eight wild‑bird cases and waterfowl across four states by late July 2025, with more than 50 detections suspected infections in Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and Kangaroo Island. State and federal emergency animal disease response plans were activated, and officials stressed low human risk New South Wales, while urging free‑range poultry producers to house flocks indoors and no infections in commercial poultry. In June 2026 the virus was found for the first time on the Australian mainland when expanding surveillance hotlines. On 10 July a dead brown skua and greater crested tern, a giant petrel native seabird, tested positive in Western Australia’s Cape Le Grand National Park. The detection ended Australia’s status as the only continent free of H5N1. Parallel investigations identified additional cases in South Australia, bringing raising the total confirmed wildlife infections count to 53 12 and signalling possible local transmission. Wildlife authorities responded by the end of July 2026, including seagulls, greater crested terns tightening biosecurity at zoos and other seabirds across Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria rescue centres, closing aviaries, adding barriers and Kangaroo Island. The outbreak on the sub‑Antarctic Heard PPE, and McDonald Islands caused the death increasing monitoring of roughly 13,000 southern elephant seal pups seals and affected penguin colonies, a loss traced to migratory birds from the Crozet Islands. Papua New Guinea responded with a temporary ban on Australian poultry imports, while other mammals. New Zealand placed recorded its poultry sector first wild‑bird H5N1 case on high alert. Authorities have intensified biosecurity measures: drone 15 July (a brown skua) and ground surveys of wildlife colonies, movement controls a second case in a swamp‑harrier on poultry farms, heightened testing of migratory birds, 17 July. Both governments activated response plans, launched vaccination programmes for threatened native species and public advisories maintained low‑risk assessments for humans and poultry. Queensland confirmed its first wild‑seabird infection on 24 July, raising Australia’s total to avoid handling 18 confirmed cases across four states. The outbreak escalated on 2‑4 August with a mass‑mortality event at Baudin Rocks, where nearly 50 greater crested terns were found dead wildlife. and dozens sick, bringing the national count to 74. The risk federal government added AU$24 million to the response budget and wildlife groups called for a $200 million resilience package. Risk to human health remains assessed as low, but officials warn of potential impacts on growing threats to native fauna, marine mammals and the poultry industry sector if the virus spreads further. spread continues.