Australia has confirmed its first case of H5N1 bird flu in a mammal, with the virus detected in a long-nosed fur seal in South Australia.
The seal was found dead in the coastal town of Beachport, about 310 kilometres south of Adelaide. Authorities said it was one of an estimated 100,000 seals living in the state's coastal waters and showed no visible signs of injury.
The spread of the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus in Australia has increased since it arrived in the country in June. The virus has spread from migratory seabirds to native species, with the first reports of mass seabird deaths recorded earlier this month.
South Australia's Chief Veterinary Officer, Skye Fruean, said seals are at increased risk of exposure because they live close to birds on coastal rocks.
Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said the death did not appear to be directly linked to other sick or dead marine mammals. She warned that once H5 avian influenza begins circulating in the natural environment, significant impacts cannot be ruled out.
Australia is the last continent to report avian influenza. The virus was detected on sub-Antarctic Heard Island in late 2025.
According to the federal government, H5N1 has not so far been detected in Australia's poultry or agricultural sectors. As of Friday, 297 cases had been confirmed across the country.
