Dr Beth Cookson, Australian Chief Veterinary Officer, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), Media Release, 10 July 2026

Testing at CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness has confirmed four additional detections of H5 high pathogenicity avian influenza (bird flu). 

This includes a detection in a greater crested tern, found near Robe, South Australia. This is the first detection of H5 bird flu in an Australian wild non-migratory seabird. 

CSIRO’s ACDP has confirmed two additional positive cases in wild migratory seabirds from South Australia. The petrels were found in Port Vincent, Yorke Peninsula and Emu Bay, Kangaroo Island. 

CSIRO’s ACDP has also confirmed another positive result in a previously reported suspect petrel from Mullaloo Beach, Perth in Western Australia. Testing remains underway for a further suspect case from a petrel at Horrocks Beach in the Shire of Northampton.    

There have now been 12 confirmed or presumed positive detections of H5 bird flu in Australia. 

There remains no evidence of any mass mortality events, and there are no detections in poultry or in our agricultural production system. 

The risk to human health remains low.

For more information visit: birdflu.com.au.

Related stories: H5 bird flu; bird flu.