Australia detects first H5N1 bird flu case in seabird

Australia on Friday confirmed the first case of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus in a native seabird, marking a new phase in the disease's spread after it landed on the country's shores last month.

Laboratory testing by Australia's national science agency confirmed the case in a greater crested tern found in the South Australian coastal town of Robe, Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said.

It is the first confirmed infection in an Australian seabird, with all other cases being found in migratory seabirds.

It brings the total number of confirmed detections in the country to 12, after authorities on Friday also confirmed two additional infections in South Australia and one in Western Australia.

Scientists investigate virus pathway

Collins said the development was "concerning" but not unexpected, adding that there was still no evidence of mass mortalities or spread to the poultry or broader agriculture sector.

"Our scientists are undertaking further work to establish the potential pathway that resulted in the Australian sea bird's infection," she said.

"What we do know is that this is a coastal seabird that has been overlapping coastal range with migratory seabirds that have previously tested positive for H5."

Australia became the last continent to confirm a mainland H5N1 case in June. The virus had previously been detected in late 2025 on Heard Island, a sub-Antarctic territory located about 4,100 km from mainland Australia.

Read more: 

• Papua New Guinea bans Australian poultry imports after bird flu cases
• Bird flu virus could trigger pandemic worse than Covid, French expert says

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Australia H5N1 bird flu South Australia Western Australia agriculture virus detection