#19,263
As mentioned yesterday, Australia's National Lab CSIRO was testing samples from 2 suspected H5N1 infected seabirds from South Australia. Not unexpectedly, both have now been confirmed, bringing the nation's total to 20 detections.
While most of these H5N1 infections have been found in migratory seabirds, 3 of the 7 from South Australia have been in local seabirds (greater crested terns).
Two brief updates. First from https://www.birdflu.sa.gov.au/
Current situation
South Australia’s first confirmed detection of H5 bird flu was in a wild migratory bird (southern giant petrel) on Wednesday, 24 June at Knights Beach at Port Elliot on the Fleurieu Peninsula.
Further confirmed detections include a giant petrel (8 July at Hardwicke Bay, Yorke Peninsula); a southern giant petrel (10 July at Emu Bay, Kangaroo Island); a northern giant petrel (10 July at Port Vincent, Yorke Peninsula); and three greater crested terns (10 July at Robe, Limestone Coast; 26 July at Semaphore, metro Adelaide; and 26 July at Robe, Limestone Coast).
The strain of virus is consistent with the strain detected in the Southern Indian Ocean Sub-Antarctic Territories, including Heard Island.
This strain has not been detected in poultry and has not become established in any part of Australia.
Up-to-date national information is available at birdflu.gov.au.
Second, from national birdflu.gov.au website.
Detection of H5 bird flu
As of 1.00 pm AEST, 26 July 2026, Australia has 20 confirmed detections of H5 bird flu in wild seabirds.This is the serious H5 bird flu strain that has been circulating globally.
- 10 in Western Australia (WA)
- 7 in South Australia (SA)
- 2 in New South Wales (NSW)
- 1 in Queensland (QLD).
There have been no detections in poultry or the wider agriculture industry. There is no evidence of any large scale deaths.
The Consultative Committee for Emergency Animal Disease (CCEAD) has reviewed its previous advice and continues to support heightened biosecurity measures in poultry for up to a further two weeks while risk-based guidance is finalised. This includes options for states and territories to utilise non-mandatory measures, including voluntary housing of free-range poultry where practical and consistent with animal welfare requirements.
State and territory governments are responsible for surveillance and response activities on the ground. They are actively working with industry to provide guidance on implementation of enhanced biosecurity measures, as appropriate. Find out more about bird flu in your state or territory.
National coordination is being led by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).
The risk to human health remains low.
Australia is well prepared to respond quickly.
