Australia has recorded its first case of bird flu in a mammal after a long-nosed fur seal tested positive for the H5 strain in South Australia, according to 1news. Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins announced the detection on Sunday, stating that the animal was found dead at Beachport on Wednesday with no signs of injury.
First Mammalian Bird Flu Case Confirmed in Australia
Speaking in Hobart, Collins noted that the development was concerning but anticipated as the virus spreads. 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,
Collins said, as reported by RNZ. She added that the infection likely occurred due to exposure to infected wild birds or their shared environment, and that the detection did not appear linked to other sick or dead marine mammals.
Testing on samples from the seal was conducted by the CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, as detailed by Nine.com.au. The highly pathogenic avian influenza has been spreading across the country since it was first detected in migratory seabirds in Western Australia in June.
Spread Across States and Risk Assessments
The virus has since been identified across multiple Australian states and territories. According to data reported by The Guardian, national cases reached nearly 300, with South Australia holding the highest total at 183 confirmed cases. Victoria has recorded 86 cases, New South Wales 11, Western Australia 10, Tasmania seven, and Queensland one.
South Australia’s chief veterinary officer, Skye Fruean, explained that seals face high risks because they live in close proximity to wild birds on coastal rocky outcrops, exposing them to high levels of the virus in their environment, according to usnews.com. Previously, the virus struck sub-Antarctic territories, killing more than 13,000 baby seals on Heard Island and McDonald Islands.
Agricultural and federal authorities maintain that the virus has not affected commercial poultry or farming systems. At this stage, there is no evidence of infection in our poultry or agriculture systems,
Collins stated, emphasizing that the human health risk remains low.
Conservation Concerns and Official Warnings
Conservation groups and wildlife experts have expressed deep concern over the progression of the outbreak. Jack Gough, chief executive of the Invasive Species Council, warned that the transmission of the virus to species such as Australian sea lions could trigger an extinction-level event, noting that fewer than 10,000 mature adults remain on Kangaroo Island and the Western Australian coast, as reported by SMH.com.au. Gough also highlighted that overseas outbreaks among seals led to high fatality rates, particularly among pups.
In response to the spread, the federal government and state authorities have initiated targeted vaccination programs for vulnerable captive or discrete bird populations, such as little penguins on Phillip Island. However, officials noted that no mammal vaccine is currently approved for use in Australia, and immunizing wild populations remains logistically difficult.
Federal and state authorities continue to urge the public to avoid touching or approaching sick or dead wildlife, and to report any suspected cases to official hotlines. National Cabinet is scheduled to discuss the ongoing response and latest developments later in the week.
