Australia confirms first mass mortality event from H5 bird flu in native seabirds

Australia has confirmed its first mass mortality event linked to the H5 bird flu virus, affecting a large population of native seabirds in South Australia. The federal government announced the concerning development after laboratory tests confirmed the virus's presence in birds found near the town of Cape Jaffa.

Agriculture Minister Julie Collins stated that the situation is "obviously a very concerning development." She cautioned the public to expect further spread of the virus and a rise in the number of affected wildlife across the country. This marks a significant escalation of the bird flu outbreak in Australia.

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This is the first confirmed case of a mass mortality and obviously a very concerning development

Since the virus first appeared in the country in June, Australia has recorded a total of 74 cases. The confirmation of this mass mortality event highlights the severity of the current outbreak and its impact on native wildlife populations. The government is monitoring the situation closely and advising the public on necessary precautions.

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Australians should expect to see more spread and larger numbers now of wildlife being affected