H5N1 confirmed in a native Australian seabird for the first time, marking a new phase in the country’s avian influenza outbreak. Photo: The Guardian
Australian authorities have issued a fresh biosecurity alert after H5N1 avian influenza was detected for the first time in a native seabird, raising concerns that the virus has spread beyond migratory birds into the country’s local wild bird population.
Experts say the development marks a significant new phase in Australia’s battle against the virus, as H5N1 had previously been detected only in migratory seabirds.
On Friday, Agriculture Minister Julie Collins announced that Australia’s national science agency had confirmed the presence of the H5N1 virus in a greater crested tern rescued in the coastal town of Robe in South Australia.
The case represents the first confirmed H5N1 infection in a native Australian seabird. All previously reported cases in the country had involved migratory seabirds.
Following the confirmation of three new cases, Australia’s total number of confirmed H5N1 infections has risen to 12. Authorities reported two new cases in South Australia and one in Western Australia on Friday.
Collins said that while the latest finding is a cause for concern, the situation remains under control. There is currently no evidence of widespread bird deaths, nor have authorities detected any spread of the virus to domestic poultry or the country’s commercial poultry industry.
She added that scientists are investigating how the native seabird became infected. The leading theory is that the bird had entered an area previously visited by H5N1-infected migratory seabirds, where it was likely exposed to the virus.
H5N1 was first detected on mainland Australia in June this year, making the country the last continent to report the virus on its mainland. Earlier, in late 2025, the virus had been identified on Heard Island, a sub-Antarctic Australian territory located about 4,100 kilometres from the mainland.
Experts say the confirmation of H5N1 in native wild seabirds underscores the need for close monitoring, as the virus may now have established a pathway into Australia’s resident wildlife populations.
Source: Reuters.