Victoria confirms first H5 bird flu case in a fox, with suspected dolphin case
Victorian authorities have confirmed H5 bird flu in a red fox found dead at Torquay on the state's south-west coast. They also suspect that a dolphin found dead at Lorne died from the same virus. The detections mark the first recorded case of H5 bird flu in a mammal in Victoria, according to officials.
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Acting chief veterinary officer Cameron Gunn said the fox was collected through ongoing surveillance and monitoring efforts. He said authorities were not generally concerned about foxes spreading the virus itself, but warned that infected carcasses could be moved by scavenging animals. Victoria has recorded 212 positive bird cases from 892 investigations since 20 June, showing the scale of the state's response.
The virus has already been found in several bird species in Victoria, including greater crested terns, magpies and little penguins. A little penguin on Phillip Island died from the virus last month, and the colony there is now being vaccinated. Authorities said they will prioritise threatened species in captivity for vaccination, reflecting concern about the impact on vulnerable wildlife populations.
The suspected dolphin case adds to a wider pattern of mammal detections linked to H5 bird flu in southern Australia. Officials said detections in seals and dolphins were not unexpected and that the virus was likely to spread to new species and other parts of Victoria. The discovery also comes as the state prepares for the spring breeding season, when birds gather in large numbers around coastal estuaries, inland waterways and wetlands.
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Chief biodiversity officer James Todd said surveillance was being focused on high-risk areas, including the Mornington Peninsula, Port Phillip Bay and other locations where wildlife congregates. That approach suggests authorities are trying to limit the spread before seasonal bird movements increase the chance of further transmission. The emphasis on vaccination for threatened captive species also points to the conservation risks posed by the outbreak.
What remains unclear is whether the dolphin at Lorne definitively died from H5 bird flu, as officials have only said the case is suspected. It is also not yet clear whether there are any further mammal detections under investigation. For now, authorities are continuing surveillance and monitoring as they assess the spread of the virus across Victoria's wildlife.
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