Australia has confirmed its first mass mortality event from H5 bird flu in native seabirds. The outbreak affected a crested tern colony living around Cape Jaffa in South Australia, Australia.
Samples collected from the Cape Jaffa area were analyzed and confirmed positive at Australia's national animal health laboratory.
Serious turning point
— Australian Agriculture Minister Julie Collins
Australian Agriculture Minister Julie Collins described the development as a "serious turning point" and warned that further spread to more areas and higher numbers of wild animal deaths could be seen.
84 birds
Dead and sick crested terns detected on offshore rocks south of Cape Jaffa, Australia.
A helicopter survey south of Cape Jaffa detected 49 dead and 35 sick crested terns on offshore rocks, totaling 84 affected birds.
Spread across Australia
H5 bird flu was first confirmed on mainland Australia on June 20, 2026, in a seabird found in Western Australia. Following that initial detection, the total number of H5 bird flu cases in Australia rose to 74.
Detections have since spread across the states of Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria. There are currently no confirmed detections in commercial chicken farms, poultry production facilities, or the broader agricultural system in Australia.
Australian health and agriculture officials reported that the current risk of H5 bird flu to human health is low. The government allocated a preparation budget exceeding 113 million Australian dollars to prepare for the potential arrival of the virus.
Updates
The mass mortality event has been specifically identified among greater crested terns on Baudin Rocks, where aerial surveillance confirmed the presence of sick and dead birds. Australia has now recorded 74 confirmed H5 bird flu cases across various states, with 54 occurring in South Australia. In response, the national management plan has been activated with an additional $24 million in state and federal funding.
The mass mortality event specifically involves greater crested terns on Baudin Rocks, where aerial surveillance detected dead and sick birds. Australia has now recorded 74 confirmed H5 bird flu cases across several states, with 54 in South Australia, 10 in Western Australia, seven in Victoria, two in New South Wales, and one in Queensland. Additionally, the national management plan has been activated with an extra $24 million in state and federal funding.
The mass mortality event was confirmed by the CSIRO to be caused by H5 bird flu among greater crested terns on Baudin Rocks, South Australia. Australia has now recorded 74 confirmed cases of the virus, with 54 in South Australia, 10 in Western Australia, seven in Victoria, two in New South Wales, and one in Queensland. In response, the national management plan has been activated with an additional $24 million in state and federal funding.
The mass mortality event was confirmed to involve greater crested terns on Baudin Rocks, where CSIRO tests identified H5 bird flu as the cause of death. Australia has now recorded 74 confirmed cases, including 54 in South Australia, 10 in Western Australia, seven in Victoria, two in New South Wales, and one in Queensland. To address the crisis, the national management plan has been activated with an additional $24 million in state and federal funding.
CSIRO has confirmed that the mass mortality of greater crested terns on Baudin Rocks was caused by H5 bird flu, following detections via aerial surveillance. Australia has recorded 74 confirmed H5 cases across several states, including 54 in South Australia, while the national management plan has been activated with an additional $24 million in funding. Agriculture Minister Julie Collins noted there is currently no evidence of the virus in poultry or agricultural systems.
The mass mortality event has been confirmed to involve greater crested terns on Baudin Rocks, with CSIRO testing verifying H5 bird flu as the cause. Australia has now recorded 74 confirmed H5 bird flu cases, including 54 in South Australia, 10 in Western Australia, seven in Victoria, two in New South Wales, and one in Queensland. To address the situation, the national management plan has been activated with an additional $24 million in state and federal funding.
CSIRO confirmed that the mass mortality event on Baudin Rocks was caused by H5 bird flu, with Australia recording 74 confirmed cases across several states. Following the identification of the virus in wildlife, an additional $24 million has been allocated to the national management plan. Agriculture Minister Julie Collins emphasized that there is currently no evidence of the virus in poultry or agricultural systems.
The mass mortality event involves greater crested terns on Baudin Rocks, where samples have since tested positive for H5 avian influenza. Australia has now recorded 74 confirmed cases, including 54 in South Australia, 10 in Western Australia, seven in Victoria, two in New South Wales, and one in Queensland. To combat the spread, the national management plan has been activated with an additional $24 million in funding from state and federal governments.
The mass mortality event was confirmed by the CSIRO to involve greater crested terns on Baudin Rocks, South Australia, following positive H5 avian influenza tests from samples collected there. Australia has now recorded 74 confirmed H5 bird flu cases, including 54 in South Australia, 10 in Western Australia, seven in Victoria, two in New South Wales, and one in Queensland. In response, the national management plan has been activated with an additional $24 million in funding from state and federal governments.
The mass mortality event was specifically identified as occurring among greater crested terns on Baudin Rocks, where aerial surveillance and subsequent testing by the CSIRO confirmed the presence of the H5N1 virus. Australia has now recorded a total of 74 confirmed H5 bird flu cases across several states, including 54 in South Australia, while officials have activated a national management plan supported by an additional $24 million in funding.
CSIRO confirmed that the mass mortality event on Baudin Rocks was caused by H5 bird flu, with 74 total cases recorded across Australia including 54 in South Australia. Australia's national management plan has been activated with an additional $24 million in funding, while the government's overall preparation budget stands at over 113 million Australian dollars. Following the first suspected case on June 19, officials noted that the virus has since spread from migratory birds to native species.
The mass mortality event has been confirmed to involve greater crested terns on Baudin Rocks, South Australia, following aerial surveillance and positive testing by the CSIRO. Australia has now recorded a total of 74 confirmed H5 bird flu cases, including 54 in South Australia, 10 in Western Australia, seven in Victoria, two in New South Wales, and one in Queensland. Additionally, the national management plan has been activated with an extra $24 million in funding from state and federal governments to address the ongoing threat to wildlife.
CSIRO has confirmed that the mass mortality on Baudin Rocks was caused by H5N1, following aerial surveillance that identified approximately 50 dead and 30 sick birds. The virus has been detected in 18 new cases in South Australia, including samples from greater crested terns and silver gulls, while a cluster of dead and sick terns has also been identified in Victoria's Glenelg River estuary. Additionally, the national management plan has been activated with an extra $24 million in funding from state and federal governments to combat the spread.
The mass mortality event was confirmed as H5N1 following CSIRO testing of samples from Baudin Rocks, specifically identifying 50 dead and 30 sick greater crested terns and a silver gull. This finding is part of a broader surge in cases, with 18 new H5 bird flu detections confirmed in South Australia on Monday, including birds at Troubridge Island, Monarto, and Pages Islands. Additionally, clusters of sick and dead greater crested terns have been identified in Victoria's Glenelg River estuary and near Portland.
The mass mortality event was specifically identified among greater crested terns on Baudin Rocks, where aerial surveillance detected approximately 50 dead and 30 sick birds. CSIRO has confirmed H5N1 in samples from these birds, as well as in several other locations, contributing to a total of 74 confirmed cases across Australia, including 54 in South Australia and 10 in Western Australia. Additionally, a cluster of dead and sick terns was identified in Victoria's Glenelg River estuary, signaling a broader spread of the virus.
The H5N1 virus has been confirmed in a mass mortality event at Baudin Rocks, South Australia, where aerial surveillance identified approximately 50 dead and 30 sick greater crested terns. CSIRO tests confirmed positive results from samples at the site, contributing to a rising total of 78 confirmed H5 cases in Australian wild seabirds. Additionally, clusters of dead and sick crested terns have been reported in Victoria's Glenelg River estuary and near Nelson, signaling a broader spread of the virus.
The mass mortality event at Baudin Rocks involves approximately 50 dead and 30 sick greater crested terns, with CSIRO confirming positive H5N1 samples from five terns and a silver gull at the site. Beyond South Australia, mortality clusters of crested terns have also been identified in Victoria's Glenelg River estuary and near Nelson. Currently, the Australian federal agriculture department has reported 78 confirmed H5 cases in wild seabirds, an increase from the previously recorded 74.
The number of confirmed H5 bird flu cases in Australia has risen from 74 to 78, with 18 new cases identified in South Australia—including birds at Baudin Rocks, Troubridge Island, and Pages Islands—while Victoria reported seven additional cases in crested terns and a growing cluster in the Glenelg River estuary, raising concerns for vulnerable colonies like the 1,400 little penguins at St Kilda.
The number of confirmed H5 bird flu cases in Australia has risen from 74 to 78, with 18 new cases identified in South Australia—including birds at Baudin Rocks, Troubridge Island, and Pages Islands—while Victoria reported seven additional cases in crested terns near Portland and Nelson, and officials now warn of potential mass mortality in the St Kilda little penguin colony, where 1,400 birds nest and up to 40% could be at risk if the virus spreads there.
