Bird Flu Hits Seals and Penguins | Adelaide News

Adelaide News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 24, 2026 · 1m

Bird flu just got real: a long-nosed fur seal in South Australia has tested positive for H5, with another on Kangaroo Island under suspicion. Authorities are scrambling — vaccine plans for penguins are being fast-tracked, while other regions like Phillip Island already vaccinate their colonies. No evidence yet of seal-to-seal spread, but biosecurity for pets and poultry remains critical. A mammalian vaccine isn’t available yet, but teams are ready to handle dead seals — especially on beaches. Meanwhile, a new algal bloom research hub is launching to tackle environmental threats head-on…