Australia, last continent without H5 bird flu, detects first suspected case
Authorities say a second sick seabird also tested suspected positive as officials await confirmatory results and prepare a national response.
- A migratory brown skua in southwest Western Australia tested positive in initial tests for the H5N1 strain of bird flu, with further tests pending for confirmation.
- Australia is the last continent without a confirmed mainland H5N1 case, although the virus was detected previously in Australian external territories such as Heard Island and McDonald Islands in late 2025.
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121 Articles
An infected subantarctic skua was found alive on June 14th on a remote beach in Cape Le Grand National Park, in the southern part of Western Australia, about 700 km southeast of Perth. The bird was initially isolated, but died later that night. "I can confirm that there are currently no signs of a mass disease outbreak, nor is there any evidence of infection in poultry," Agriculture Minister Julie Collins assured, adding that the situation is be…
It was so far the only continent that had been spared, but the corpse of a migratory bird carrying avian influenza, H5N1, was found on Saturday 20 June on a beach in western Australia. It is therefore the first detected case of this fearsome virus on the continent, which is home to a large flying industry as well as many endemic species of birds.
H5N1 bird flu confirmed in Australia for the first time, meaning virus has now reached every continent – Democratic Accent
The first case of H5N1 bird flu has been confirmed in Australia, meaning the virus has now found its way to every continent. The Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry said the virus was found in a single seabird, a brown skua, near Esperance on the south coast of Western Australia, in Cape Le Grand National Park. Australia’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development said it was “responding as part of a nati…
H5N1 bird flu confirmed in Australia for the first time, meaning virus has now reached every continent
The first case of H5N1 bird flu has been confirmed in Australia, meaning the virus has now found its way to every continent.The Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry said the virus was found in a single seabird, a brown skua, near Esperance on the south coast of Western Australia, in Cape Le Grand National Park.Australia’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development said it was "responding as part of a nation…
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