Australia Confirms First Mass Bird Flu Mortality in Wildlife

Australian authorities confirmed the country's first mass mortality event of native seabirds due to the H5N1 avian influenza strain at Baudin Rocks on August 1.

The incident involved 49 dead and 35 sick greater crested terns, contributing to a total of 78 confirmed H5 cases across five states as of August 3.

Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt stated that the virus is spreading rapidly in the environment, with infections also detected in silver gulls near critical sea lion breeding sites.