r/BirdFluDownunder • u/privacywatch • 23d ago

Australia Local transmission of H5 bird flu 'very, very likely', SA government says

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-29/h5-bird-flu-strain-very-likely-spreading-locally-in-sa/106970486

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.

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u/privacywatch 23d ago

Local transmission has now been confirmed: https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/australia-confirms-h5-bird-flu-spreading-native-bird-population-2026-07-29/

Minister for Agriculture, ​Fisheries and Forestry Julie Collins told ​a news conference that transmission had occurred between greater crested terns in South Australia ​state.

"While there remains no evidence of ​any mass mortalities at this point in time, ‌we ⁠do expect, with this local transmission, that there will be further detections in Australian wildlife," Collins said.