The deadly H5N1 bird flu strain has arrived on the Australian mainland after a migratory sea bird tested positive for the contagious virus in Western Australia. Agriculture Minister Julie Collins confirmed that a brown skua, found unwell at Cape Le Grand national park in southern Western Australia, died from the disease.
With this confirmation, the highly contagious variant has now spread to every continent on the planet. Until now, Australia was the only continent that had not detected the strain.
Minister Collins stated that there is currently no evidence of mass mortality or infection in poultry following the test result of the migratory wild bird. Another case of the virus is currently suspected.