Farm Progress America: The H5N1 avian influenza virus has now been detected on every continent, with Australia confirming its first cases in wild seabirds last week.
June 23, 2026
Bird flu reaches Australia, completing global spread
Australia’s status as the last continent free from the current H5N1 strain ended when officials confirmed the virus in two wild seabirds near Esperance, Western Australia. A dead brown skua and a sick giant petrel both tested positive for the deadly strain that has been circulating globally since 2021.
The detections occurred in Cape Le Grand National Park, approximately 350 miles southeast of Perth, well away from commercial poultry operations. Australian Egg Minister Julie Collins emphasized that there is “no evidence the virus has reached the country’s poultry or ag systems,” and no trade restrictions have been imposed on Australian poultry exports.
However, the threat is being taken seriously. Australian farmers remember last year’s H7 outbreak that forced the culling of 1.8 million birds and created egg shortages lasting nearly a year. Western Australian poultry groups have already canceled summer bird shows and urged producers to restrict bird movements and keep flocks separated from wild birds.
State officials are considering housing orders that could require free-range operations to bring birds inside. The federal government has invested nearly $100 million in recent years preparing for this scenario.
The virus has killed millions of wild birds worldwide and infected commercial poultry, dairy operations, and some farm workers. With H5N1 now present on every continent, carried by migratory birds, biosecurity measures have become more critical than ever for protecting commercial flocks.
This synopsis was created with the use of AI.
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