Australia has recorded its first case of the highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu strain, becoming the last continent to detect the virus in wild bird populations.

The country’s Agriculture Ministry confirmed that the virus was identified in a brown skua, a migratory seabird found on a beach in Cape Le Grand National Park near Esperance in Western Australia. The coastal town is located approximately 700 kilometres southeast of Perth.

Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said authorities had long anticipated the arrival of the virus, noting that Australia could not remain free of bird flu indefinitely. She also revealed that a second suspected case involving a southern petrel found exhausted on an Esperance beach is under investigation.

Officials emphasized that there is currently no evidence of widespread bird deaths linked to the virus. Threatened Species Commissioner Fiona Fraser said additional testing is underway and authorities expect to determine within a few days whether H5N1 has spread to other wildlife populations.

The H5N1 strain is highly contagious among poultry and wild birds and has caused significant outbreaks in many parts of the world. While human infections remain rare, health experts continue to closely monitor the virus due to concerns about its potential impact on animal populations and food security.

Australia had previously remained the only continent without a confirmed case of the H5N1 strain. Its detection now marks the global spread of the virus across every continent, prompting heightened surveillance efforts by Australian wildlife and agricultural authorities.