SYDNEY: Australia’s chief veterinary officer has confirmed that the highly contagious H5 bird flu virus is now spreading among wild bird populations, marking a significant development after the country recorded its first case only weeks ago.

Australia had remained the only continental landmass free from the H5 avian influenza strain for years, despite widespread outbreaks that have devastated poultry farms and wildlife across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

Chief Veterinary Officer Beth Cookson said on Wednesday that health authorities have now detected local transmission of the virus among wild birds, raising concerns that the disease could spread rapidly across Australia’s native bird populations.

“This news of local transmission may mean we start to see wider spread among wild birds,” Cookson said, warning that once the virus becomes established in wild bird populations, preventing further outbreaks would become extremely difficult.

H5 Bird Flu Detected in Coastal Bird Colonies

Australia confirmed its first H5 bird flu case in June after the virus was detected in a migratory seabird. Scientists had previously warned that it was only a matter of time before the virus spread to resident bird species.

Recent laboratory testing has confirmed that the virus is now circulating among colonies of greater crested terns along the South Australian coastline.

Officials said the discovery was concerning but not unexpected, as birds sharing the same coastal habitats can easily transmit the virus to one another.

The country’s national science laboratory has confirmed seven additional infections in greater crested terns this week, bringing Australia’s total confirmed H5 bird flu cases to 27.

Poultry Industry Remains Safe

Australian Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said there is currently no evidence of mass bird deaths linked to the outbreak and stressed that Australia’s commercial poultry industry has not been affected.

She also reassured the public that the virus currently poses a very low risk to human health, with authorities continuing to closely monitor the situation.

Biosecurity agencies are maintaining surveillance across the country to detect any further spread of the disease among wildlife or domestic birds.

Threat to Australia’s Unique Wildlife

Experts are increasingly concerned that the H5 bird flu outbreak could threaten Australia’s unique biodiversity.

The virus primarily affects waterfowl, seabirds, shorebirds, birds of prey, and other wild bird species. Internationally, H5 has also infected several mammal species, including marine mammals, cats, goats, alpacas, and pigs.

Authorities are particularly worried about vulnerable wildlife populations found nowhere else in the world. Nearly half of Australia’s wild bird species and 83% of its mammal species are endemic to the country.

Kangaroo Island Takes Precautionary Measures

Four suspected bird flu cases have also been reported on Kangaroo Island, one of Australia’s most popular wildlife destinations and home to a significant population of endangered Australian sea lions.

As a precaution, South Australian Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven announced that guided beach tours have been temporarily suspended to reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to vulnerable marine wildlife.

Officials are continuing to monitor the island closely while awaiting laboratory confirmation of the suspected cases.

Previous Outbreak Killed Thousands of Seal Pups

Scientists have already witnessed the devastating impact of the H5 virus on Australian wildlife.

In June, researchers confirmed that the virus was responsible for the deaths of more than 13,000 elephant seal pups at breeding colonies on the remote Heard and McDonald Islands in the southern Indian Ocean.

Wildlife experts fear that if the virus becomes firmly established across mainland Australia, it could pose a long-term threat to many native bird and animal species, making continued monitoring and rapid response efforts essential.