Sydney: The number of H5N1 bird flu cases in Australia surpassed 200 on Saturday, as Victoria introduced new measures aimed at preventing the deadly strain from spreading to poultry.
The federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) said in an update that Australia had recorded 203 confirmed or presumed positive cases of the H5N1 strain as of Saturday.
The number of confirmed cases has increased by 290 per cent so far in August, rising from 52 at the end of July.
South Australia Records Highest Number of Cases
Of the 203 total cases, 147 have been detected in South Australia (SA), including 28 new cases confirmed on Saturday.
The DAFF said all 28 new cases reported in SA were detected among wild seabirds.
Victoria has recorded the second-highest number of cases among Australian states, with 43 cases. This includes 36 birds confirmed on Thursday and Friday after being found in the state’s west near the border with South Australia.
The latest detections have raised concerns over the possible spread of the virus among wild birds and poultry populations.
Victoria Orders Poultry to Be Housed Indoors
The Victorian government on Friday announced new precautionary measures for poultry producers along the state’s south coast, including Melbourne.
Under the measure, poultry producers with flocks of at least 50 birds will be required to keep their birds indoors for an initial period of 14 days.
Victorian Agriculture Minister Michaela Settle said the government hopes the precautionary measure will help prevent the spread of the H5N1 strain.
Australian Chief Veterinary Officer Beth Cookson had said in a statement on Tuesday night that new confirmed detections of H5N1 in South Australia and Victoria had taken the national total to 102 at that time, including 81 cases in South Australia.
Cookson said there had been no detections in Australia’s agricultural system and that the risk to human health remained low.
Australia Braces for More Wildlife Deaths
Environment and Water Minister Murray Watt said separately on ABC radio on Tuesday that Australia was likely to witness more mass mortality events linked to the H5N1 strain.
The federal government on Monday confirmed Australia’s first mass mortality event from H5N1 after a flock of greater crested terns was found dead on an island off the South Australian coast.
The strain has previously caused significant wildlife deaths in other parts of the world. H5N1 killed an estimated 30,000 sea lions in South America within six months in 2022.
It also killed an estimated 13,359 southern elephant seal pups on Australia’s Heard Island in the Southern Ocean between August 2025 and January 2026.
With cases continuing to rise in Australia, authorities are maintaining surveillance of wild birds and implementing measures aimed at preventing the virus from reaching the country’s poultry and agricultural systems.