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Australia Detects H5 Bird Flu as Virus Reaches Every Continent
State leaders will discuss increased surveillance as Australia investigates a suspected H5 case in a brown skua, officials said.
- Australia confirmed its first mainland case of H5N1 bird flu on a beach in Western Australia, with testing identifying the infected brown skua at Cape Le Grand National Park about 700km southeast of Perth.
- Until this detection, Australia remained the final continent free of H5N1, despite the virus spreading globally across wild bird and mammal populations since 2021, killing millions worldwide.
- Adelaide University veterinarian Wayne Boardman warned the virus could "devastate" native species, noting it causes "huge die-offs" among endangered shorebirds, coastal raptors, and Australian sea lions.
- Federal Agricultural Minister Julie Collins stated the government is "well placed to respond," allocating $113 million toward preparedness measures while urging citizens to report sick wildlife to authorities.
- Experts emphasize that while preventing the virus from arriving via wild birds is impossible, maintaining strict biosecurity practices remains essential for protecting poultry and limiting impact on native biodiversity.
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For a long time Down Under was spared from the currently widespread avian flu: now the virus, which has infected millions of birds worldwide, has finally spread to all continents of the world.
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources13
Leaning Left1Leaning Right2Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Center
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources are Center
50% Center
L 17%
C 50%
R 33%
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