Seven new suspected H5N1 bird flu cases reported in Australia

Canberra, July 27 (IANS/GURPUNEET SIDHU) Authorities in South Australia (SA) on Monday reported seven new suspected cases of the deadly H5N1 bird flu strain.

Clare Scriven, SA’s minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, told reporters that all seven new suspected cases were found in greater crested terns located on the state’s southeast Limestone Coast.

Of the suspected new cases, she said five were found in the same town over two days. Samples from all seven birds were initially tested by local authorities and have now been sent for confirmatory testing by the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness to determine if local transmission has occurred.

Once confirmed, it would take the total number of H5N1 cases in Australia to 27 after the highly pathogenic strain was first detected on the mainland in mid-June.

SA’s Chief Veterinary Officer Skye Fruean said while speaking alongside Scriven that local authorities would increase surveillance in areas where they expect to see seabirds considered high-risk species for carrying the deadly strain, including crested terns.

Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Julie Collins said earlier on Monday that there have been no H5N1 mass mortality events in Australia and there has been no evidence of the strain in poultry or agricultural systems.

She said that the risk to human health remains low, Xinhua news agency reported.

H5N1 is a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus that is easily transmitted between birds. It is a zoonotic disease (a disease that transmits from animals to people), that is less well-adapted to mammals. However, mammalian infections are increasing and mammal to mammal transmission has occurred.

Between 2003 and December 2025, the World Health Organization reported 477 deaths from 993 confirmed human cases of H5N1 avian influenza globally.

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