New South Wales confirms first H5 bird flu cases in native birds

New South Wales has confirmed its first cases of H5 avian influenza in Australian native birds, after two Greater Crested Terns were found dead in separate locations. One bird was discovered near Narooma on the state's south coast and the other near Wentworth in western New South Wales. The confirmation marks a new stage in the state's bird flu response, which had previously involved detections in migratory birds.

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According to the government, the birds were reported by members of the public to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline and then sampled by the state's H5 response team. Officials said surveillance is continuing in the affected areas to help detect any further cases early. The government also said the two native-bird cases bring the total number of infected birds in New South Wales to four.

Environment Minister Penny Sharpe said the cases were not unexpected and that the government had been preparing for them. She said the state remained well equipped to manage further impacts and was using available data and tools to target action at the most at-risk wildlife species and important natural places. The comments suggest authorities are treating the detections as part of a broader biosecurity monitoring effort rather than an isolated event.

The development matters because H5 avian influenza can affect wildlife populations and trigger wider biosecurity concerns when it appears in new species or new locations. Native birds are an important part of Australia's ecosystems, so detections in those populations can raise questions about spread, surveillance and the protection of vulnerable species. The fact that the cases were found in different parts of the state also underlines the geographic spread that officials are watching closely.

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New South Wales had already recorded two H5 cases in migratory petrel birds near Port Stephens in early July. That earlier detection meant the state was already dealing with the virus before the latest confirmation in native birds. The new cases therefore add to an existing response rather than beginning a fresh outbreak from scratch.

What remains unclear is whether any further native birds have been affected beyond the two confirmed cases. Officials have said surveillance is continuing, and that will determine whether the virus is contained to the known locations or has spread more widely. The next updates are likely to focus on additional test results, any new detections and whether further measures are needed in the impacted areas.

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