Australian authorities have stepped up surveillance after the H5 strain of avian influenza was detected for the first time in an Australian seabird.
The latest case involves a greater crested tern discovered near Robe on South Australia’s Limestone Coast. Laboratory testing by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) confirmed the presence of the ‘virus’, while three additional cases—two in South Australia and one in Western Australia—have brought Australia’s total alleged H5 detections to 12.
Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said the infected bird is believed to have shared habitat with migratory seabirds that previously tested positive for the virus. Scientists are now examining the virus to determine whether it matches strains already detected in migratory birds and to better understand how the infection occurred.
Despite the heightened official response, Collins acknowledged there has been no mass wildlife die-off and no evidence that the virus has entered agricultural settings. Nevertheless, South Australian authorities have launched enhanced surveillance around the discovery site as part of broader monitoring efforts.
South Australia’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Skye Fruean, said transmission from migratory birds to native species had long been considered a’ possibility’, noting that coastal seabirds frequently interact with migratory species both offshore and along the coastline.
Bureaucrats say Australia’s monitoring systems are functioning as intended, with the infected bird having been reported by a member of the public before being sent for laboratory testing. No additional dead birds were found in the surrounding area.
Local conservation volunteer Maureen Christie said the discovery was disappointing but not unexpected, as experts had warned for years that the ‘virus’ would eventually reach native seabirds. She also criticised the lack of public information signage on beaches explaining what people should do if they encounter sick or dead birds, saying communities had received clearer guidance during previous marine disease outbreaks.
