Australia confirms first 'mass mortality' event from H5 bird flu in native seabirds

SYDNEY: The first ​mass mortality ​event in Australia from ​H5 bird flu has occurred in a large group of native ‌seabirds in ⁠the ⁠state of South Australia, ​the federal government said on Monday.

Laboratory testing ​by Australia's national science agency confirmed the virus was ​present in the ⁠group of ‌sick and dead ​birds ​near the town ⁠of Cape Jaffa, Agriculture Minister Julie ​Collins said.

"This is the ​first confirmed case of a mass mortality and obviously a very concerning development," she told reporters in ‌Canberra.


"Australians should expect to see more spread ​and larger ​numbers ⁠now of wildlife being affected."

Australia has now recorded 74 cases of the ​deadly virus since it first appeared in the country in June.