H5N1 bird flu has now spread to all 7 continents
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Support reliable science news. Donate now to help EarthSky keep going. By Marcel Klaassen, Deakin University; Meagan Dewar, Federation University Australia, and Michelle Wille, The University of Melbourne On June 20, 2026, a suspected case of the deadly bird flu, also known as high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1, was confirmed in a brown skua.
This large seabird was found in Cape Le Grand National Park near Esperance, about 700 kilometers (430 miles) southeast of Perth in Western Australia. The virus is also suspected to have affected another seabird, a southern giant petrel, found at the same area. Following the initial testing, samples collected from these birds were sent to the CSIRO to confirm the first Australian cases of H5N1, specifically the clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 lineage.
Avian influenza viruses are categorized by subtype (creating the H and N number combination, here H5N1) and specific clades within the H5 subtype.
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