Confirmed Positive H5N1 in Birds (n=18)
#19,261
While there was never much doubt, we now have confirmation from Australia's National Lab CSIRO that the seabird recovered from Moreton Island (25 miles N.E. of Brisbane) has tested positive for H5N1.
H5 bird flu confirmed in a wild seabird found at Moreton Island
A dead petrel found by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) rangers at Moreton Island (Mulgulpin) has been confirmed positive for H5 high pathogenicity avian influenza (H5 bird flu) in laboratory tests by the CSIRO Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness.
The positive test is the first confirmed detection of H5 bird flu in Queensland.
There remain no detections in poultry, nor evidence of large-scale deaths in any animals in Queensland.
The risk to human health remains low.
The community is being urged to continue to report sick or dead wild birds.
Queensland has been preparing for H5 bird flu and has strong response arrangements in place. Australia also has national arrangements to respond to emergency animal disease incidents.
Australia’s first case of H5 bird flu was reported on 20 June 2026 in Western Australia, with further detections in wild seabirds in WA, SA and NSW.
Department of Primary Industries Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Allison Crook said the confirmed positive detection was expected, and the Queensland Government was well prepared to respond.
“We have known that a H5 bird flu detection in Queensland was a matter of when, not if,” Dr Crook said.
“This confirmed positive result has not impacted our poultry sector or native wildlife.
“We have further escalated our surveillance program throughout the state, and are delivering heightened H5 bird flu awareness and engagement activities to ensure industries and communities know what to do.
“There have been more than 1,000 reports from Queensland to the hotline since the first reported case on 20 June 2026, and I thank the public for their support.
“I encourage the community and industry to continue to be vigilant,” Dr Crook said.
“If you find sick or dead wild birds or wildlife, avoid contact, keep children and pets away, record what you see, and report immediately to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.”
Meanwhile Australia's ABC News is reporting that South Australia has recovered 2 deceased local birds (greater crested terns), and has sent samples to CSIRO for confirmation. While not explicitly stated in the article, this generally indicates a local test has returned a positive result.
Two additional H5 bird flu cases suspected in SA, including first on a metro beach
While I haven't found any official press releases, ABC News quotes SA Environment Minister Emily Bourke as saying one of these birds was recovered just 4 km from where Australia's first local infected seabird was detected earlier this month.
They quote the SA Environmental Minister as saying:
"Unfortunately, we are finding that these two cases are in our local [bird] species, so we need to send these tests off now to Geelong for them to have confirmation at that centralised location that they are, or are not, the H5 high strand of this disease."
