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While Australia's first detection of H5N1 was in in Western Australia, and at least 5 states have now reported infected birds, South Australia has quickly become the epicenter of bird flu activity.
While Australia's first detection of H5N1 was in in Western Australia, and at least 5 states have now reported infected birds, South Australia has quickly become the epicenter of bird flu activity.
Details are provided on the Government of South Australia website:Overnight another 19 suspected cases (mostly crested terns) were confirmed by the National lab (CSIRO), and we are now hearing about a mass mortality event on a small island (Baudin Rocks) just off the coast.
H5 bird flu testing update
The Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) has confirmed positive test results for H5 bird flu in a silver gull at Robe and 19 greater crested terns on the Limestone Coast and Kangaroo Island.
There have now been 39 confirmed positive H5 bird flu cases in South Australia.
The 19 confirmed cases in greater crested terns were announced last night by the Australian Chief Veterinary Officer.
These greater crested terns were found in Beachport (3), Cape Jaffa (1), Southend (1), Port MacDonnell (2), Robe (7), and Seal Bay (5). One greater crested tern that returned a suspected positive result has returned a negative result in confirmatory testing by the ACDP.
A further six suspected H5 bird flu cases have been detected, all in wild seabirds, following testing of samples in Adelaide:The samples have been sent to the CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) in Geelong, Victoria, for confirmatory testing with results expected to be known in the coming days.
- 2 greater crested terns from Troubridge Island (off the east coast of the Yorke Peninsula)
- 1 greater crested tern from Monarto (Murray Bridge Council)
- 1 silver gull from Glenelg (Holdfast Bay Council)
- 1 silver gull from Robe (District Council of Robe)
- 1 silver gull from Southend (Wattle Range District Council).
There remains no H5 bird flu detections in poultry or other livestock. The risk to human health of H5 bird flu remains low.
PIRSA is also investigating a report involving 49 dead and 35 sick greater crested terns found by aerial surveillance teams yesterday at an offshore location south of Cape Jaffa. Samples were collected and are now undergoing testing in Adelaide, with results to be known in coming days.
Engagement with primary industries, the wildlife sector, and the broader South Australian community continues as part of the South Australian Government’s commitment to deliver the most comprehensive and effective wildlife and industry surveillance, reporting and preparedness efforts possible.
Baudin rocks, which local media has identified as the location of the mass mortality event, is a labeled a protected area under the Fauna Conservation Act of 1964 and is home to numerous species of birds.
While H5N1 has not been confirmed, given the multitude of positive detections in the immediate area, HPAI is highly likely.
Mass mortality events are common with HPAI, in birds and marine mammals, making this a concerning report (see Preprint: Mass mortality of southern elephant seals during multi-species outbreak of HPAI H5N1 on sub-Antarctic Heard Island).
While SA is currently the focus of our attention, neighboring state Victoria is now reporting at least 6 new presumed positive seabird detections.
Further suspect H5 bird flu detections in south west
1 August 2026
Further suspect cases of H5 bird flu have been detected in crested terns in Victoria's south west.
There is now one existing positive case and six suspect cases in Victoria.
Preliminary testing has identified five crested terns, three from Portland and two from Nelson Bay, suspected to have H5 bird flu after returning a positive result at Victoria’s state lab, AgriBio. Samples are undergoing confirmatory testing at CSIRO's Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness along with the single suspect case from Portland announced yesterday.
Victoria's Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Graeme Cooke said the additional suspect cases showed how important community observations are in helping detect and monitor disease in wild birds.
There are literally thousands of citizen reports of dead or dying birds across Australia since H5N1's arrival in June; with South Australia reporting > 3,100 and Western Australia > 2,300.
But due to logistics, and limited resources, only a fraction can been prioritized for investigation, and fewer still can be tested.
What is becoming increasingly clear is that HPAI is encountering few barriers as it spreads through Australia's seabird population, and that marine mammals and poultry are at increasing risk as well.