SYDNEY: Australia on Sunday confirmed its first case of H5N1 bird flu in a mammal, with the deadly virus detected in a long-nosed fur seal in South Australia state.
South Australian authorities said the seal was found dead at the coastal town of Beachport, about 310 kilometers (192 miles) south of Adelaide, the state capital. The animal showed no signs of injury, and its death “does not appear to be associated with other sick or dead marine mammals,” Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said in televised remarks.
The seal was one of an estimated 100,000 in the state’s waters, authorities said.
“Once the H5 bird flu is spreading in the natural environment it is not possible to avoid significant losses,” Collins added.
Australia has been grappling with rising cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza since the virus arrived in the country in June. This month, the nation reported its first mass seabird deaths from the virus, marking an escalation of the outbreak that began after the virus was first detected in migratory seabirds before spreading to native species.
The virus has yet to appear in Australia’s poultry or agriculture sector, according to the federal government, which said Friday that 297 cases had been confirmed nationwide.
Australia was the last continent to report bird flu, though the virus was detected in late 2025 on the sub-Antarctic territory of Heard Island. More than 13,000 baby seals were killed by the virus on the island, according to local media.
