Breaking: Third H5N1 bird flu case confirmed as virus found in South Australia

Third Australian H5N1 bird flu case confirmed as virus found in SA Wed 24 Jun 2026 at 3:51pm A third confirmed case of the deadly H5N1 bird flu has been found in a migratory bird on Australia's southern coast. South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said the state recorded the avian influenza in a Southern Giant Petrel found at Knights Beach on the Fleurieu Peninsula. It comes after two birds were confirmed to have the disease near the town of Esperance in Western Australia. Meanwhile, WA authorities also confirmed an additional bird has tested positive for the virus, but will need to be confirmed by the CSIRO. That bird was found 700 kilometres north-west of the original site near the tourist town of Dunsborough. Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins told parliament she was in contact with both of her WA and SA counterparts about managing the cases. Loading