Australia reports H5 bird flu in dolphin as Macquarie Island researchers are withdrawn over seal-death risk
Australia has reported a new H5 bird flu case in a common dolphin found dead near Goolwa on South Australia's Fleurieu Peninsula. State testing confirmed the animal was positive for H5N1, and samples have been sent to the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness for further analysis. The finding marks the second native mammal species in Australia known to have contracted the virus.
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The federal government also said it will withdraw 24 expeditioners from the Macquarie Island research station in the Southern Ocean. Officials said the decision was taken because of the psychosocial risk of witnessing possible mass seal deaths during the upcoming breeding season. The island lies about 1,500km south-east of Tasmania and is home to large elephant seal populations close to station buildings.
The dolphin case follows earlier detections in long-nosed fur seals at Beachport and the Pages Islands, as well as a case in a red fox near Port Adelaide. South Australia's Department of Primary Industries and Regions said the new detection was a fresh development in Australia, but noted there is evidence overseas of dolphins and porpoises catching H5 bird flu. The department also said dolphins do not commonly eat birds, although they can sometimes interact with them.
The federal government's risk assessment has rated common dolphins at high risk from bird flu, meaning the virus could cause severe population declines if it becomes established. That assessment adds to concern about the wider ecological impact of H5N1 in marine mammals, particularly in places where animals gather in large numbers. The Macquarie Island decision also shows how wildlife disease can affect not only animals but also the people working in remote research settings.
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Macquarie Island has not yet recorded bird flu, but expert assessments have predicted a high likelihood of a significant mortality event during the breeding season. Officials said the possible scale of seal deaths, rather than a direct human health threat, drove the withdrawal decision. The department said the risk to humans remains low, but prolonged exposure to such an event could create workplace impacts and psychological stress for expeditioners.
What remains unclear is whether the virus will spread further among wildlife in South Australia or reach Macquarie Island. The samples from the dolphin are still being examined, and the island has not reported any confirmed H5N1 cases. The next developments will depend on further testing, surveillance and whether additional detections emerge in seals, dolphins or other native species.
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