Anthony Albanese says Australia’s first mainland case of deadly H5N1 bird flu ‘concerning’

<p>Tests taken in Western Australia suggest a second bird was also infected, but there is no evidence poultry or agriculture systems are affected</p><ul><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>The deadly <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jun/18/more-than-13000-seal-pups-die-on-remote-australian-island-amid-bird-flu-outbreak">H5N1 bird flu strain</a> has arrived on the Australian mainland with test results confirming a migratory seabird found on the Western Australian coast was positive for the disease.</p><p>The agriculture minister, Julie Collins, confirmed a brown skua – found unwell last Sunday at Cape Le Grand national park near Esperance in southern WA had died from H5N1.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jun/20/australia-confirms-first-case-of-h5n1-bird-flu">Continue reading...</a>