Australia confirms eighth H5 bird flu case as South Australia reports second positive detection

South Australia has confirmed its second H5 bird flu case after a giant petrel found at Hardwicke Bay tested positive. Two more suspected cases have been detected in migratory seabirds on the state’s coast, while national confirmed cases have now risen to eight. Authorities say there is no widespread evidence of the disease in wildlife or commercial poultry.

Second confirmed case in South Australia

Australia has confirmed another case of H5 bird flu, bringing the national total to eight.

The South Australian government said testing by the CSIRO Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness confirmed that a giant petrel found at Hardwicke Bay, on the Yorke Peninsula, was positive for the disease.

It is the second confirmed H5 case in South Australia.

Two further giant petrels are also suspected of having H5 bird flu. One was found at Port Vincent, also on the Yorke Peninsula, and the other at Emu Bay on Kangaroo Island. Samples have been sent to the CSIRO facility in Geelong for further testing.

Migratory seabirds under surveillance

Authorities believe the detections are linked to migratory seabirds.

Species such as giant petrels and skuas travel long distances across the Southern Ocean and are being closely monitored as possible carriers of the virus.

Australia had long avoided the most concerning global strain of highly pathogenic H5 bird flu, but recent detections in wild birds have pushed authorities into a new phase of surveillance and response.

No widespread outbreak detected

South Australia has completed what the government described as the largest aerial survey of the state’s coastline, islands and reefs in 40 years.

Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven said the rapid surveillance operation covered around 600 locations, including 86 islands, islets and reefs, and found no widespread evidence of sick or dead seabirds or seals.

“The results from the rapid surveillance operation are reassuring,” Scriven said.

She added that while the survey does not remove the risk of further detections, it gives authorities a timely picture of what is happening across some of South Australia’s most important coastal and island environments.

No commercial poultry infections reported

So far, there is no evidence that the virus has spread to commercial poultry farms in South Australia.

That is a critical point for the agriculture sector. If H5 bird flu entered commercial poultry operations, it could trigger major biosecurity measures, movement restrictions, culling programs and economic damage.

For now, the confirmed cases remain linked to wild seabirds.

Public urged not to touch sick or dead birds

Authorities are urging the public not to touch sick or dead birds.

Anyone who finds dead or unwell wild birds should avoid contact and report the incident through the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

People should record the location, number of birds and any unusual behaviour, but should not attempt to collect or handle the animals themselves.

Kangaroo Island closely watched

The suspected case at Emu Bay is particularly sensitive because Kangaroo Island is home to important wildlife populations and fragile ecosystems.

Authorities are waiting for CSIRO confirmation before determining whether the suspected case becomes another official detection.

For now, the message remains cautious: there is no evidence of widespread spread, but further detections remain possible.

A test for Australia’s biosecurity system

The eighth confirmed case shows that Australia is now dealing with a real H5 bird flu risk in wild birds.

The good news is that broad surveillance has not found widespread mortality in seabirds or seals. The concern is that the virus has now been detected in multiple locations and may continue to appear through migratory wildlife.

Australia’s biosecurity system is now being tested.

The priority is to detect cases early, prevent spread to poultry and protect vulnerable wildlife populations before isolated detections become a wider outbreak.

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