H5 Bird Flu Detected in Western Australia

A suspected case of H5 bird flu was confirmed in a migratory wild seabird in Western Australia on 19 June 2026. The bird was a brown skua found at Cape Le Grand National Park near Esperance, about 700 km south-east of Perth, and it died on 14 June 2026.

Avian Influenza and H5N1

Avian influenza is a viral disease that affects birds, and the H5 subtype belongs to the influenza A family. The H5N1 strain has been detected in multiple regions since 2021 and has caused deaths in birds and mammals across several continents.

Testing and Laboratory Confirmation

Western Australian authorities carried out preliminary testing on 18 June 2026, and the sample returned a suspected positive result for avian influenza. The sample was sent to the CSIRO Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness in Geelong for confirmatory testing, with results expected on 20 June 2026. A second sick sub-Antarctic migratory bird, a giant petrel, was found in the same area and is also being tested for avian influenza.

Geographical and Wildlife Context

Cape Le Grand National Park is a coastal national park in Western Australia near Esperance. Brown skuas and giant petrels are seabirds that breed in sub-Antarctic regions and migrate over long distances.

Important Facts for Exams

• H5N1 is a subtype of influenza A virus and is associated with avian influenza outbreaks.
• CSIRO stands for the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation.
• Heard Island is an Australian external territory in the sub-Antarctic region.
• Australia had no confirmed mainland case of H5N1 before this detection in Western Australia.

Previous Australian Detection

H5 bird flu was previously detected on Heard Island in October 2025, where it caused the deaths of more than 13,000 southern elephant seal pups. Heard Island lies about 4,000 km south-west of Perth.