Assessments affirm a migratory brown skua present in Western Australia had the virus.
Revealed On 20 Jun 2026
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Australia will do “no matter we are able to” to curb H5N1 chicken flu after the primary mainland case was confirmed in a seabird, which suggests the virus has now unfold to each continent.
Assessments confirmed a migratory brown skua present in Western Australia’s Cape Le Grand Nationwide Park had the lethal virus, authorities stated on Saturday, and a large petrel present in the identical space was additionally suspected to be contaminated.
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“That is regarding,” Albanese advised reporters in Sydney, including his authorities would do “no matter we are able to to limit any unfold”.
Beforehand, Australia had been the one continent with out a confirmed mainland case, though the virus was detected in late 2025 on Heard Island, a sub-Antarctic territory about 4,100km (2,550 miles) from the mainland.
Agriculture Minister Julie Collins stated the virus had not but been detected in Australia’s poultry or agriculture sector.
“All of us knew we couldn’t be chicken flu-free endlessly,” she stated.
Human infections stay uncommon, however the extremely pathogenic avian influenza has led to the culling of a whole lot of tens of millions of birds globally lately, disrupting meals provides and driving up costs.
