Australia Confirms First Mass Wildlife Deaths from H5N1 Bird Flu as 50 Seabirds Die Off South Australian Coast

Australia has confirmed its first mass wildlife mortality event from H5N1 bird flu after 49 dead and 35 sick greater crested terns were found off the South Australian coast. Agriculture Minister Julie Collins warned of wider wildlife spread, though no cases have reached commercial poultry farms. The federal and state governments have activated a national management plan, releasing 24 million Australian dollars to combat the outbreak as the virus spreads across five states.

Mass wildlife mortality events

• ▪Laboratory testing confirmed H5N1 bird flu in 49 dead and 35 sick greater crested terns found on Baudin Rocks near Cape Jaffa, South Australia.
• ▪Aerial surveillance identified a cluster of sick and dead crested terns in the Glenelg River Estuary near Nelson and Lawrence Rocks in Victoria.
• ▪The death of approximately 50 greater crested terns off the South Australian coast represents Australia's first confirmed mass wildlife mortality event from H5N1 bird flu.

H5N1 transmission among wildlife

• ▪Australia's total H5N1 bird flu cases reached at least 74, with South Australia accounting for the majority of detections.
• ▪Local transmission of H5N1 bird flu is occurring among resident Australian wildlife, marking a shift from earlier isolated cases in migratory seabirds.
• ▪H5N1 bird flu has spread across five Australian states, including South Australia, Western Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland.

High-risk species populations

• ▪Five confirmed H5N1 cases in birds at Seal Bay on Kangaroo Island have raised concerns for the endangered Australian sea lion population.
• ▪Silver gulls are considered a high-risk vector for carrying H5N1 bird flu inland and into urban areas due to their scavenging habits and movement between habitats.

Poultry biosecurity measures

• ▪There is no evidence of H5N1 bird flu on commercial Australian poultry farms or agricultural systems.
• ▪Australian poultry farms have implemented lockdowns and tightened biosecurity measures since H5N1 bird flu was first detected in the country in June 2026.

Australia's H5N1 response strategy

• ▪The Australian federal and state governments activated a national management plan for H5 bird flu, releasing an additional 24 million Australian dollars.
• ▪The Australian government had previously invested 113 million Australian dollars to prepare for the arrival of H5N1 bird flu.