Australian scientists have found signs of the deadly H5 bird flu strain in elephant seals on Heard Island, a remote sub-Antarctic territory.
The discovery followed reports of unusually high seal deaths, though other species like penguins showed no similar impact. Officials said the finding is not unexpected since H5 has been detected on nearby islands and poses little risk to Australia’s mainland.
Samples collected by researchers will undergo confirmatory testing once returned to Australia in mid-November.
The government has invested over 100 million Australian dollars to strengthen bird flu preparedness, including a major biosecurity exercise held in 2024.
Credit : CGTN
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