Bird flu outbreak takes 'concerning' turn in Australia as first case is confirmed in a mammal

By AIDAN WONDRACZ, ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR, AUSTRALIA and AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS Published: 03:26, 23 August 2026 | Updated: 03:52, 23 August 2026 Australia has recorded its first case of bird flu in a mammal. Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins revealed a long-nosed fur seal had tested positive at Beachport, south of Adelaide. 'This is sadly our first confirmed case of H5 bird flu in a mammal in Australia,' she said. 'Although this is a concerning development, it is not unexpected for us to start to see infection in other wildlife, particularly in marine mammals, particularly in areas where there are high infection rates in wild birds. 'I have been advised that at this time the detection does not appear to be associated with other sick or dead marine mammals. 'An infection of this individual animal is likely to have occurred due to exposure to infected wild birds or the environment that they share.' Some 298 cases of bird flu have been recorded across Australia. One-hundred and eighty-three of those have been in South Australia.  Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins revealed a long-nosed fur seal had tested positive at Beachport, south of Adelaide 'At this stage there is no evidence of infection in our poultry or agriculture systems,' Collins said.  Mass deaths across two states have marked a major shift in Australia's bird flu outbreak, as authorities seek approval for vaccinations to protect vulnerable animals. Aerial surveillance detected more than 1000 dead crested terns on remote islands off South Australia, Premier Peter Malinauskas said on Thursday. On King Island off Tasmania, 28 dead penguins were also discovered, a week after confirmation of the state's first bird flu case. 'The loss of more than 1000 birds is deeply concerning and the state government is treating these events with the utmost seriousness,' Malinauskas said on Thursday. There was also the disconcerting news of a suspected flu death involving a little penguin on Kangaroo Island, he said. SA authorities were seeking approval for a vaccination program for penguins and potentially other species, the premier said. The vaccinations, which require two separate injections, would initially be focused on captive animals, such as those at Adelaide Zoo and Cleland Wildlife Park, but there was no timeline on its rollout.  Some 298 cases of bird flu have been recorded across Australia In Tasmania, specialist teams had been sent to King Island after 28 penguins and three crested terns were discovered at the Port of Grassy.  The animals were being tested for H5 bird flu, Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff posted on social media. 'While that testing happens, further teams are being surged to the area,' he said.