The dangerous H5N1 virus has been detected in a wild seabird in Australia for the first time

Australia has officially confirmed its first case of the H5N1 avian influenza virus in a native seabird. In addition, experts are examining a dead seal to determine whether it might also have been infected with the dangerous virus.

Australia confirmed on Friday the first case of the deadly H5N1 avian influenza virus in a native seabird, stating that it is also investigating a dead seal for possible infection, raising concerns about a wider spread of the disease following its emergence in the country last month.

Laboratory tests conducted by Australia’s national science agency confirmed the presence of the virus in a great crested tern found in the coastal town of Robe in South Australia, Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said.

This is the first confirmed case of infection in a seabird on the Australian mainland; all other cases have been detected in migratory seabirds.

Thus, the total number of confirmed cases in the country has reached 12, after authorities on Friday also confirmed two additional cases in South Australia and one in Western Australia.

Collins stated that this development is “concerning” but not unexpected, adding that there is no evidence so far of mass mortality or spread to other animal populations, nor to the poultry or agricultural sectors.

“Our scientists are conducting further research to determine the potential route of infection in the Australian seabird,” she said.

“We know that this is a coastal seabird whose range partially overlaps with that of migratory seabirds in which the H5 virus has previously been detected,” she added.

The spread of the virus among local seabirds is “very bad news,” said Hamish McCallum, an ecological virologist at Griffith University.

“It’s quite likely that this will be the start of many new cases,” he added.

Samples from a young fur seal that died Thursday on the Central Coast of New South Wales were also tested for the H5N1 virus, a spokesperson for the Department of the Environment said.

A positive result would mark the first confirmed case of H5N1 infection in a mammal on the Australian mainland.

New South Wales became the third state in the country where the H5N1 virus has been detected, after a migratory seabird on the Mid-North Coast tested positive earlier this month.

Since 2021, this virulent strain of avian influenza has spread among wild bird and mammal populations, killing millions of animals and infecting poultry farms, dairy farms, and even some agricultural workers.

In June, Australia became the last continent to confirm a case of H5N1 infection on the mainland, although the virus had already been detected in late 2025 in the sub-Antarctic territory of Heard Island, approximately 4,100 km from mainland Australia.

Scientists believe the virus killed about 13,000 seal pups on Heard Island.

This was reported by Reuters.

In Italy, the H9N2 strain of avian influenza was detected in a human for the first time in Europe.

As a reminder, a new strain of H5N1 avian influenza is spreading in Germany: should we expect an epidemic?

Additionally, Spain is imposingrestrictions on poultry farmers due to avian influenza.