The risk of H5 bird flu affecting Australian wildlife such as freshwater ducks, geese and black swans has increased with the confirmation of the deadly avian influenza found in a non-migratory bird in South Australia.

On Friday, June 10 Australian chief veterinary officer Beth Cookson said testing at CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) had confirmed the detection of H5 high pathogenicity avian influenza (H5N1 HPAI) in a greater crested tern, found near Robe in South Australia.

“This is the first detection of H5 bird flu in an Australian wild non-migratory seabird,’’ Dr Cookson said.

Birdlife Australia’s Hobart Australasian Seabird Group seabird ecologist Eric J Woehler said the detection of the highly pathogenic avian influenza in a greater crested tern in South Australia was the second chapter of the H5N1 global pandemic on Australia’s shores.

“Most Australians who live close to the coast will be familiar with greater crested terns – they are a widespread coastal bird found around much of Australia’s coasts,’’ Dr Woehler said.

“At present, the birds are away from their breeding colonies, potentially reducing the risk of the virus spreading.

“Their breeding season starts shortly and the risk of spreading increases as a result.

“The H5N1 virus has had devastating impacts on other tern species elsewhere.

“We will have to wait to see the extent of the virus on this Australian seabird species.”

Curtin University school of molecular and life sciences deputy head Bill Bateman said bird flu had been dealt with in Australia before but the new highly pathogenic strain had already caused havoc in every other continent, devastating wildlife worldwide.

The associate professor said H5N1 affected more than birds – seals and sealions were highly susceptible and it could infect cattle as well as poultry.

He said while the recorded cases of H5N1 flu in Australia now may seem very few it was known from experience with Covid-19 that such respiratory diseases can spread fast.

“Brought here by sea-going migratory birds, the H5N1 strain has now been recorded in a tern – a coastal sea bird,’’ he said.

“The last thing we want is for it to spread to freshwater ducks and geese or make the leap to our bush birds or our unique mammal species.

“While the chance of it infecting people is relatively low, we do run the risk of being a spreading vector – if you see dead birds on the shore, or birds that look sick and disoriented, keep away and keep your dogs away from them and report it to the emergency animal disease hotline on 1800 675 888.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) said nationally there had been 13 confirmed or presumed positive results of H5 bird flu in Australia.

A DPIRD spokeswoman said testing at CSIRO’s ACDP yesterday confirmed the virus in the previously reported suspect positive dead petrel at Mullaloo beach.

“Another dead petrel previously reported at Horrocks beach near Northampton was classified as presumed positive with further testing unable to definitively determine H5 bird flu virus through viral sequencing,’’ she said.

“It is considered highly likely this bird was infected with H5 bird flu based on the H5 test results, species involved, coastal location and the broader epidemiological picture.”

The seven confirmed H5N1 HPAI detections in WA are isolated occurrences and dispersed along a significant length of coastline from east of Esperance to Northampton.

This article appeared on Yanchep News Online on 11 July 2026.