Bangkok: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that the government is committed to taking all necessary steps to control the spread of the H5N1 bird flu virus after its detection in a migratory seabird, the brown skua, in a remote area of the southwest. This marks the first instance of the virus being found on mainland Australia.
According to Thai News Agency, Australia had previously been the only continent devoid of the avian influenza virus on its mainland, despite its earlier detection in the sub-Antarctic region of Heard Island, about 4,100 kilometers from the mainland, in late 2025. The confirmation of the virus in mainland Australia has prompted immediate action from the government.
The Australian government confirmed that laboratory tests identified the H5N1 virus in seabirds found ill near Esperance, approximately 570 kilometers southeast of Perth. Agriculture Minister Julie Collins stated that the virus has not infiltrated Australia's livestock or agricultural systems, even though another seabird species, the Giant Petrel, also tested positive in the same area. In a press conference in Canberra, she assured the public that there is no current evidence of mass animal fatalities or indications of the virus in poultry farms or other agricultural systems.
In response to the detection, Australian authorities have strengthened biosecurity measures on farms, increased disease testing among coastal birds, distributed vaccines to animals at risk, and conducted urgent contingency drills to manage the situation effectively.