Australia Flags 150 Bird Species at Very High H5N1 Risk After 2 Confirmed Cases
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 23
Australia Flags 150 Bird Species at Very High H5N1 Risk After 2 Confirmed Cases
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 23
Summary
More than 150 native bird species and over 10 mammal species were assessed by Australia’s federal government as at very high risk of extinction or major decline if infected with H5N1.
The warning follows Australia’s first confirmed detections of the strain in two wild seabirds—a brown skua and a giant petrel—found near Esperance on Western Australia’s coast.
WA authorities said Tuesday that further testing has found no new cases and no evidence the virus has spread into other wild populations.
Black swans are among the most vulnerable: 2023 research found they lack key immune genes to detect H5N1, raising the risk of uncontrolled inflammatory responses and localized mass deaths.
Officials have prepared for years with 100 response plans, but experts say Australia’s endemic species face unusual danger because lost populations often cannot be replenished from abroad.
With H5N1 now infecting mammals globally, are Australia's iconic marsupials the next to fall?
Black swans lack key immune genes. Is their fate a warning for Australia's entire unique ecosystem?
Can Australia's 100 response plans stop a virus that has already conquered every other continent?
H5N1 Avian Influenza Detected in Australia: Risks, Response, and Uncertainties as of June 23, 2026
Overview
In June 2026, Australia detected highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza for the first time on its mainland, ending its long-standing H5N1-free status. The virus was found in two migratory seabirds—skuas and giant petrels—near Esperance, Western Australia. Evidence suggests these birds, which travel from subantarctic or Antarctic regions, likely brought the virus to Australia. Their primarily marine lifestyle means they rarely come ashore, offering hope that the virus may not spread widely. This detection has sparked urgent action from authorities and raised concerns for wildlife, agriculture, and biosecurity across the country.