Australia on Friday confirmed the first case of infection with the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus in a local seabird, stating that it is also testing a dead seal for possible infection, raising concerns about a wider spread of the disease after its emergence in the country last month, reports UNN citing Reuters.
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Laboratory tests conducted by Australia's national science agency confirmed the presence of the virus in a large crested tern found in the coastal town of Robe in South Australia, said Agriculture Minister Julie Collins.
This is the first confirmed case of infection in a seabird on the Australian mainland; all other cases were detected in migratory seabirds.
Thus, the total number of positive cases in the country has reached 12, after authorities on Friday also confirmed two additional cases of infection in South Australia and one in Western Australia.
Collins stated that this event is "concerning" but not unexpected, adding that there is currently no evidence of mass mortality or spread to other animal populations, nor to the poultry or agricultural sectors.
"Our scientists are conducting further research to determine the potential route of infection for the Australian seabird," she said.
"We know this is a coastal seabird whose range partially overlaps with that of migratory seabirds in which the H5 virus was previously detected," she added.
The spread of the virus among local seabirds is "very bad news," said Hamish McCallum, an infectious disease ecologist at Griffith University.
"It is quite likely that this will be the beginning of many new cases," he added.
Samples were also being tested for the H5N1 virus in a young fur seal that died on Thursday on the Central Coast of New South Wales, a Department of Environment spokesperson said.
A positive result would be the first confirmed case of H5N1 infection in a mammal on the Australian mainland.
New South Wales became the third state in the country where the H5N1 virus was detected, after a positive result was obtained earlier this month from a migratory seabird on the Mid North Coast.
Since 2021, this virulent strain of bird flu has spread among wild bird and mammal populations, killing millions of individuals, infecting poultry farms, dairy farms, and even some agricultural workers.
In June, Australia became the last continent to confirm a case of H5N1 virus infection on the mainland, although the virus was detected as early as late 2025 on the subantarctic territory of Heard Island, approximately 4,100 km from continental Australia.
Scientists believe the virus has killed about 13,000 seal pups on Heard Island.