First case of bird flu in mammal confirmed in South Australia
Australian authorities have confirmed the first case of H5 bird flu in a mammal after a fur seal tested positive in South Australia. The government is monitoring the situation closely and has initiated vaccination programs for local penguin colonies.
Why it matters
The transmission of bird flu to mammals raises concerns about the potential for the virus to adapt and pose a greater risk to other species, including humans.
Australia SA Bird flu First case of bird flu in mammal confirmed in South Australia Patrick Brischetto Updated August 23, 2026 - 10.08am . First published at 3.21am
shares Share article Australia has recorded its first case of bird flu in a mammal after a fur seal tested positive for the disease in South Australia .
Julie Collins, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, made the announcement on Sunday, admitting the development was “concerning”.
The Australian fur seal was found dead on Wednesday south-east of Adelaide. Getty Images
“Testing by CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness has confirmed H5 bird flu in samples taken from a long-nosed fur seal in South Australia,” Collins said.
The fur seal was found dead with no signs of injury on Wednesday at Beachport, about 311 kilometres south-east of Adelaide.
“This is Australia’s first confirmed case of H5 bird flu in a mammal,” Collins added.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in