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🇦🇺 Australia /Health & Science

H5 Bird Flu Strain Detected in Australian Seabird for First Time

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • The H5 strain of bird flu has been detected for the first time in an Australian seabird.
  • The deadly strain was confirmed by CSIRO lab testing in a greater crested tern found in Robe, South Australia.
  • While 12 cases have now been detected, there is no evidence of widespread wildlife mortality or spread to agricultural settings.

Australia has confirmed its first detection of the H5 strain of bird flu in a native seabird. The virus was identified in a greater crested tern found along the Limestone Coast in Robe, South Australia.

CSIRO lab testing has confirmed the deadly strain in a greater crested tern found in Robe in South Australia's Limestone Coast.

— Julie CollinsAnnouncing the confirmation of the H5 bird flu strain in an Australian seabird.

Agriculture Minister Julie Collins announced that laboratory testing by CSIRO confirmed the presence of the deadly strain. This marks a significant development, as previous confirmed cases in Australia involved migratory birds arriving from sub-Antarctic regions.

There have also been two further confirmed cases in South Australia and one in Western Australia, bringing the total number of detections to 12.

— Julie CollinsProviding an update on the total number of H5 bird flu detections.

To date, a total of 12 detections of the H5 strain have been recorded across Australia, including two additional cases in South Australia and one in Western Australia. Despite these findings, authorities have stressed that there is currently no evidence of mass mortality among wildlife populations. Crucially, there is also no indication that the virus has spread into agricultural settings, such as poultry farms.

There is still no evidence of mass mortality among wildlife and no evidence of any spread to agricultural settings.

— Julie CollinsReassuring the public about the current impact of the detected bird flu cases.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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