Australia confirms first H5N1 bird flu case in local mammal
Authorities said the seal was found dead with no signs of injury as Australia records 298 H5 bird flu events since the outbreak began.
- On Saturday, Australian authorities confirmed the nation's first H5N1 case in a mammal after a long-nosed fur seal was found dead in Beachport, South Australia, approximately 310km south of Adelaide.
- Australia has recorded 298 positive H5N1 events since the outbreak began several months ago, becoming the final continent to report the virus after detection on Heard Island in late 2025.
- Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said the seal's death 'does not appear to be associated with other sick or dead marine mammals,' attributing the infection to exposure to infected wild birds.
- Collins will travel to South Australia 'in the coming days' to discuss the state's response, while a vaccination program for more than 5,000 little penguins across Phillip Island began on Monday.
- The virus has yet to show up in Australia's poultry or agriculture, though authorities reported mass seabird deaths in August, marking an escalation of the outbreak that began in migratory seabirds.
68 Articles
68 Articles
Avian influenza attacks in Australia. The relentless advance of this disease has put on guard the international agencies against H5N1. Thousands of marine species on the planet are already facing the blows of a biological crisis that threatens to decimate certain ecosystems already extremely fragile. Experts do not hide their concern about the aggressiveness of the new outbreak, as the agent is attacking very quickly, which shows how helpless ma…
Bird flu has been confirmed in a mammal on the Australian mainland for the first time. It involves a New Zealand fur seal, which was found dead on Wednesday on a beach near Beachport, about 300 kilometers south of Adelaide. Tests revealed that the animal was infected with the deadly H5 virus.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 46% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
