First recorded detection of bird flu in a marine mammal in Tasmania

 

Photo and headline:  ABC News Australia, 10.15/2026

Bird flu has been detected in a seal and a gull on Macquarie Island, a remote outpost halfway between Tasmania and Antarctica. 

Samples collected from a southern elephant seal and a kelp gull were returned with island personnel and subsequently tested, returning a positive result for H5 bird flu. 

Tasmania's Minister for Environment and Climate Change Guy Barnett said in a statement on Thursday it was the "first recorded detection in a marine mammal in Tasmania".

Other Australia bird flu posts:

September 16-30, 2026 

So far Tasmania has reported 45 events.  (9/29)

New South Wales reports 8 new events.  (9/26)

New South Wales reports 2 new events.  (9/25)

Victoria reports cases in fur seals.  (9/24)

Australia reports 4 sea lions test positive for bird flu.  (9/23)

Convulsing gulls.  (9/21)

New South Wales reports 8 more events.  (9/18)

September 1-15

Australia reports first case of bird flu in pelican.  (9/15)

New South Wales is ground zero for bird flu in Australia.  (9/14)

Australia bird flu news:  New South Wales reports five new events.  (9/14)

Australia reports sea lion death due to bird flu.  (9/13)

Australia bird flu news:  New South Wales has recorded "25 events".  (9/11)

Australia reports widespread outbreak of bird flu denial.  (9/10)

Rethinking how to deal with foxes as bird flu spreads in Australia. (9/9)

Bird flu reported at northern beach in Sydney Australia.  (9/7)

Tasmania begins vaccination of orange-bellied parrots.  (9/3)

August 16-31, 2026

Dolphin dies of bird flu in Australia.  (8/30)

"Psychological risk" on Macquarie Island.  (8/28)

Bird flu suspected case of red fox infection in Australia.  (8/27)

Australia's 12,000 remaining sea lions at risk from bird flu.  (8/26)

"Indicator status" of black swans.  (8/25)

Australia reports first mammal death from bird flu.  (8/24)

Kangaroo Island residents worry about spread of virus.  (8/23)

So far wild birds but not poultry affected .  (8/21)

Bird flu kills 1000 crested terns in South Australia.  (8/21)

Cause of mass death of birds in Victoria not yet confirmed.  (8/20)

Philip Island penguin dies of bird flu.  (8/17)

First reported case in Narooma sets off worries over impact on tourism business.  (8/16)

August 1-15, 2026

In Australia, avian flu takes a toll on wild birds.  (8/15)

Tasmania reports first case of bird flu.  (8/14)

Officials considers closing of public areas.  (8/13)

Chicken lockdown expands.  (8/13)

Poultry events cancelled at agricultural show.  (8/9)

New South Wales reports first case in native species.  (8/9)

Poultry farms in VIctoria go into lockdown,  (8/8)

Australia is facing a bird flu outbreak in wildlife.  (8/2)

Seagull tests positive for bird flu in Australia.  (8/1)

WATT Poultry finally gets around to reporting on bird flu in Australia and New Zealand after 6-week layoff.  (8/7)

Australia fears  a bird flu disaster is looming.  (8/6)

Spread of bird flu in Australia.  (8/4)

Mass mortality bird flu event in Australia.  (8/3)

July 2026

Australia sounds the alarm for local birds and sea lions.  (7/31)

Bird flu cases confirmed in South Australia.  (7/30)

Victoria reports first case of bird flu.  (7/30)

Will these 7 suspected cases of bird flu in South Australia be confirmed?   (7/28)

Two cases of bird flu reported in South Australia.  (7/26)

Queensland reports first case of bird flu.  (7/24)

Detected cases of bird flu in Australia jumps to 17.  (7/23)

6th and 7th cases of bird flu reported in Australia.  (7/4)

June 2026

Australia reports 4th case of bird flu.  (6/28)

Australia confirms 3rd case of bird flu.  (6/25)

Bird flu has now reached every continent.  (6/23)

First bird flu case in Australia leads to poultry farm lockdowns.  (6/23)

Australia reports its first case of bird flu.  (6/19)