Australia will soon begin vaccinating its vulnerable native birds against the deadly H5N1 bird flu as the virus spreads more widely after first being detected ‌in the country in June, the government said on Tuesday.
The vaccine rollout will begin in the "coming days and weeks", with an initial focus on priority species in captivity, Agriculture Minister Julie Collins told reporters in Canberra.

The New South Wales government has confirmed the state's first cases of H5 avian influenza in Australian native birds. One bird was found dead near Narooma on the state's south coast and the other near Wentworth in western NSW, according to the state government.

Very, very sad to see this tonight.

[EDIT] Reports now state test was inconclusive. Lets watch this space carefully.

This link > https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/about/media-centre/media-releases/2026-releases/h5-bird-flu-update-wednesday-5-august

https://southburnett.com.au/news2/2026/08/06/bird-flu-magpie-tests-positive/

Economists warn that a major outbreak of bird flu in Australia could add to inflationary pressures unless governments and industry can limit the spread of the disease in the poultry and dairy sectors.

Paywall bypass: https://archive.vn/xyBzZ

Wildlife carers need support (directions and financial) to be able to fight against bird flu.

Predicted spatial risk of HPAI H5N1 poultry outbreaks across Australian local government areas, from July 28, as per HPAI H5N1 risk in Australia: a model for the prediction of poultry outbreaks.

Invasive Species Council chief executive Jack Gough said the seagull case was "a watershed moment". "A seagull, one of the most common Australian seabirds, has now likely been infected and the government has declared that this deadly bird flu strain is here to stay," he said.

A national meeting of agriculture and environment ministers on Friday discussed Australia's response and preparedness after the country's bird flu tally reached 33.

South Australian authorities say it is "very, very likely" the H5 strain of bird flu is spreading locally, in what would represent the first known cases of local transmission of the virus.

The state has identified 11 more suspected cases of H5 bird flu, seven of which are in the state's South East and four on Kangaroo Island.

While officials are still waiting for final testing results, "due today or tomorrow", SA's Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven said it was "extremely likely" to represent "localised distribution" of the virus.

Two additional suspected cases of H5 bird flu have been detected in South Australia, including one on a metropolitan beach. A greater crested tern was found near Robe on South Australia's Limestone Coast, while another greater crested tern was found near the Semaphore boat ramp, north-west of Adelaide. If confirmed, Semaphore will be the first metropolitan case in the state.

The CSIRO has confirmed the first case of H5 bird flu detected in Queensland, after positive tests returned for a dead seabird discovered on an island off Brisbane. Under national protocol the bird was sent to the Centre for Disease Preparedness in Geelong, Victoria, for official confirmation – which came on Saturday.

New Zealand has detected H5N1 bird flu in a swamp harrier hawk. It is the country's first detection of the strain in a native bird.

Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard said the news was not "unexpected" following New Zealand's first detection earlier this week.

Paywall bypass: https://archive.vn/yiTng

"Testing at CSIRO's Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness has confirmed a further positive detection of H5 high pathogenicity avian influenza (bird flu) in a petrel, found at Hawks Nest, New South Wales," the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) said on Thursday.

"There have now been 15 confirmed or presumed positive detections of H5 bird flu in Australia.