Bird flu kills first mammal on Australian mainland as seal dies in South Australia

A long-nosed fur seal has died from H5 bird flu in South Australia, marking the first confirmed case in a mammal on the Australian mainland. The seal was discovered deceased at Beachport on the Limestone Coast.

This incident represents a significant escalation in the virus's spread. It comes just days after the South Australian premier announced mass die-offs of over 1,000 greater crested terns on offshore islands. The highly pathogenic strain of bird flu has already caused the deaths of millions of birds worldwide and has been detected in various mammal species, including elephant seals.

Federal government assessments identify long-nosed fur seals and the endangered Australian sea lion as facing a very high risk from the virus. The South Australian government also confirmed a little penguin found on Kangaroo Island this week tested positive for H5 bird flu, underscoring the growing concern over the virus's impact on wildlife.