H5N1 bird flu reaches the last untouched continent – a ‘chilling reminder’ about biosecurity

H5N1 bird flu reaches the last untouched continent – a ‘chilling reminder’ about biosecurity

H5N1 bird flu has reached Australia and New Zealand, meaning the virus has now spread to every continent on Earth. Until this year, Australia was the only continent untouched by the H5 strain, with the virus believed to have crossed the Indian Ocean via subantarctic bird populations. SAPA's avian influenza report for June 2026 says the global spread is a chilling reminder of the importance of tight biosecurity and controlled bird movement. The r…