Australia confirms first H5N1 bird flu case in local mammal

Sydney, August 23 - Australia has reported its first case of H5N1 bird flu in a mammal, with the virus identified in a long-nosed fur seal in South Australia. The seal, discovered deceased near Beachport, a coastal town roughly 310 km (192 miles) south of Adelaide, was among an estimated 100,000 seals inhabiting the state's waters.

Authorities noted that the seal's demise, devoid of visible injuries, does not seem linked to other ill or deceased marine mammals. Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins disclosed these details in a televised address. She further emphasized that once H5 bird flu permeates the natural environment, substantial losses are inevitable.

Australia had earlier this month recorded its first mass seabird fatalities due to the virus, signaling the intensifying outbreak that originated with migratory seabirds and subsequently spread to native species. As of now, the virus has not been detected in Australia's poultry or agricultural sectors, according to the federal government, which reported 297 confirmed cases nationwide.

Australia is the most recent continent to confirm bird flu, having detected the virus on the sub-Antarctic Heard Island in late 2025. The virus had caused the deaths of over 13,000 baby seals on the island, as per local reports.