Suspected H5 bird flu detected in Western Australia

scienceJun 19, 202615278

A sick migratory skua found at Cape Le Grand near Esperance, Western Australia, returned a suspected positive test for H5 avian influenza, federal authorities confirmed. This is the first suspected detection of H5 on the Australian mainland after earlier detections on Heard Island and the McDonald Islands. Authorities have launched targeted surveillance, warned people not to touch sick or dead birds, and asked the public to report sightings to birdflu.gov.au while labs complete confirmatory testing. H5 strains have killed millions of birds and mammals worldwide, raising conservation and biosecurity concerns for Australia’s native species and the poultry sector.

ABC News Australia

@news.abc.net.au

Suspected detection of H5 strain of bird flu in WA, which would mark first detection in Australia

5545d ago

Fiona Katauskas

@fionakatauskas.bsky.social

I was in Kakadu last week and person who lived there was saying how terrified the rangers and locals are about bird flu and how devastating it would be to the incredible and unique bird life there

7545d ago

JustAnotherBunny2

I used to live there - and it would be a complete disaster. The viruses are winning more rapidly in this anti-science and starvation of public health funding environment. We learned nothing from COVID in fact we’ve gone backwards 😞

Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀

@mackayim.bsky.social

Well, the day had to come. “Bird flu” flies into Australia on a feathered wing. Lock up the chooks! According to Australia's national broadcaster, Western Australia (WA) is the site for the first importation to the Australian mainland - via a bird - of an avian influenza virus of an H5 type…

5345d ago

RTarlinton.bsky.social4

Urggh , I mean yes it was inevitable but it still sucks, absolutely devastating here in Europe ( still is 5 years after the first cases) . Good luck and remember this isn’t something you can eradicate ( vaccination has to be part of the mix)

Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀2

Nod within to @fla-medic.bsky.social who runs a blog with many good pieces on A/H5N1

Paul Bongiorno

@paulbongiorno.bsky.social

Australia news live: Wild bird found sick with suspected bird flu in WA as minister says positive H5 test would be ‘sobering but not unexpected’ Sandilands is buying into 2GB and NewsCorp’s business model as is Karl Stefanovic. There’s money to be made in dumb bigotry

2745d ago

CosmicRami 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

@rami.spaceaustralia.com

Oh, this is not good. Bird Flu might have arrived in Australia. This is where conservation facilities and the like will be super important. Hopefully, they can protect enough native species (esp. those classed as high-risk / endangered) to rebuild populations.

2045d ago

David Marler

@qldaah.bsky.social

Avian influenza detected in a skua in Western Australia. Expeditions to the Australian territories of Heard Island and McDonald Islands in late 2025 also detected it in wildlife there. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06...

1145d ago

kaya wanu

@kayawanu.bsky.social

An outbreak of a deadly bird flu strain has had a devastating impact on wildlife living on Heard Island near Esperance in WA youtu.be/cPAzmPn8G8c?...

344d ago

Andy McKay

@korimakoecology.bsky.social

It's 4,345 km between Heard Island and Cape Le Grand Beach. H5N1 recently killed 13,000 baby seals on Heard Island, along with other species. Cape Le Grand Beach is where they found the first H5N1 infected birds on mainland Australia. It's 4,635 km between Cape Le Grand Beach and Wellington.

745d ago

ABC News Bot (unofficial)

@abcnewsbot.bsky.social

The first suspected case of a deadly strain of bird flu that has killed millions of birds and mammals worldwide has been found in Western Australia, the federal government has confirmed.

445d ago

Mike Coston

@fla-medic.bsky.social

AFD Blog `Australia Awaits Test Results On 1st Suspected H5N1 Detection (wild bird)' h/t @mackayim.bsky.social afludiary.blogspot.com/2026/06/aust...

645d ago

Kerry Jaggers 🇦🇺

@kerryjaggers.bsky.social

First suspected case of bird flu in Australia. It doesn't affect only birds. It has killed millions of birds and mammals globally. If you see a sick bird or animal, don't touch it. Take photos from a safe distance. Report it to government on birdflu dot gov dot au. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06...

345d ago

Peter Frederick

@pfred60.bsky.social

Suspected first case of H5 bird flu in Western Australia in a wild migratory bird. Last continent standing no more. Please report any sick or dead birds as per the instructions to the relevant authorities. #birds www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06...

345d ago