Suspected bird flu cases detected

Additional suspected cases of H5 bird flu have been detected in Australian seabirds along the Limestone Coast.

All are greater crested terns, with one found at Cape Jaffa, one at Port MacDonnell, and five around Southend Jetty, near Beachport. Of the five birds collected from Southend Jetty, four were sick and one was deceased.

The seven birds were reported to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline before they were collected and sampled by PIRSA. The samples returned suspected detections last night and have been sent to the CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) in Geelong for confirmatory testing.

If the ACDP confirms the detection of H5 bird flu in all birds, it will bring the total number of confirmed cases in South Australia to 14.

Importantly, there continues to be no detections of H5 bird flu in poultry, captive birds, or pets and other wildlife or livestock.

It follows confirmation over the weekend from the ACDP that two new H5 bird flu cases were detected in SA, including the first positive case detected in metro Adelaide (at Semaphore) and a second detection in Robe on the Limestone Coast.

The South Australian Government is responding to this increase in positive detections among wild Australian seabirds through targeted surveillance of areas frequented by greater crested terns.

Encouragingly, the South Australian public continues to take the threat of H5 bird flu seriously, with more than 2,600 reports having been made to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline since 20 June. Since 1 January 2026, more than 1,160 samples from birds have been tested in SA.

The South Australian Government continues to engage with primary industries, wildlife carers and observers, and the general public as part of its commitment to working alongside vigilant South Australians to keep our poultry industry and native wildlife safe and prepared.

Community forums are being held as part of broader public engagement about the virus, offering South Australians the chance to hear directly from experts and Government ministers on what is being done to respond and prepare for further H5 bird flu detections.

A community forum will be held tonight in Adelaide at the Glenelg Surf Life Saving Club, from 6pm to 7.30pm.

Forums have previously been held at Goolwa, Kangaroo Island and Yorketown, and further forums will be held through August at Parham on the east coast of Gulf St Vincent, in the Riverland, and at Robe.

Further information about these and other future community forums will be announced via birdflu.sa.gov.au.

South Australians are encouraged to continue being vigilant in reporting sick and dead birds and other wildlife.

Avoid touching sick or dead birds and other wildlife. Record what you see. Report it to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

For the latest updates, information and advice about H5 bird flu in South Australia, visit birdflu.sa.gov.au.