Australia Confirms 2 H5N1 Cases in Wild Seabirds, Putting Wildlife Agencies on High Alert
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 22
Australia Confirms 2 H5N1 Cases in Wild Seabirds, Putting Wildlife Agencies on High Alert
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 22
Summary
A giant petrel on Western Australia’s southern coast tested positive for H5N1 on Monday, two days after a brown skua case was confirmed; both birds later died.
Nearly 60 reports of sick or dead birds were logged over the weekend, though Australia’s chief veterinary officer said there was no sign the virus had spread beyond the two known infections.
Researchers suspect the virus arrived from Antarctica because both species breed there and migrate north in winter, with scavenging behavior seen as a likely transmission route.
The detection ends Australia’s status as the only continent untouched by the H5N1 wave that has killed millions of birds and mammals since 2021, raising fears for seabirds, marine mammals and poultry industries.
Experts warned sick birds coming ashore could be scavenged by gulls or other species and seed wider outbreaks, urging the public not to handle carcasses and to report them to the national hotline.
After devastating Antarctic wildlife, will H5N1 cause an extinction crisis for Australia's iconic animals?
With H5N1 arriving from Antarctica, is Australia's entire biosecurity strategy now facing the wrong way?
Bird flu can now jump from cats to humans. Could Australian house pets become the next pandemic vector?
H5N1 Bird Flu Hits Australia: Outbreak Timeline, Wildlife Impact, and Government Action
Overview
In June 2026, Australia lost its status as one of the last continents free from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 after the virus was confirmed in Western Australia. This followed reports of fifty-eight dead or sick birds, from which nine samples tested positive for H5N1. The virus, which originated in Asia, has been spreading globally since 2021, impacting Europe, the Americas, and even reaching Antarctica before arriving in Australia. This marks a significant development in the worldwide spread of H5N1 and highlights the ongoing risk posed by its rapid movement across continents.