Bird flu detected in second spot in Tasmania

Second case of H5 bird flu detected in Tasmania as crested tern on King Island tests positivePosted Fri 14 Aug 2026 at 12:15pmFri 14 Aug 2026 at 12:15pm, updated Fri 14 Aug 2026 at 1:04pmFri 14 Aug 2026 at 1:04pmThe virus was detected in a crested tern on King Island. (ABC News: Carl Saville)The H5 strain of bird flu has been detected in a crested tern on King Island, marking the second confirmed case of the virus in Tasmania.Department of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) Tasmania staff collected the bird from the coast near Currie on Thursday, with testing overnight confirming the H5 strain.The bird had been reported through the Emergency Animal Disease hotline.Late yesterday afternoon, another two crested terns from the same location were also reported. Test results are expected on Saturday.Crested terns are common around coastal areas in Australia, including Tasmania.If a member of the public spots a sick or dead bird, they should avoid contact with the animal, record what they see and report it to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.Premier Jeremy Rockliff thanked the community and NRE staff for their swift response."Unfortunately, H5 bird flu's arrival in Tasmania was expected at some point given the spread across the globe and across other Australian states," he said."We are responding through surveillance activities across the state, including field monitoring, sample collection and testing, aerial observations and remote surveillance technology. "We are prepared, we are taking a proactive approach, and we are responding quickly."There have been no detections of H5 bird flu in commercial poultry operations in Tasmania.The state's first case of the virus was confirmed on Thursday in a migratory brown skua found at Burgess Cove at Rocky Cape, on the north-west coast of Tasmania. A member of the Parks and Wildlife Service found the carcass while undertaking coastal surveillance.Primary Industries and Water Minister Gavin Pearce yesterday said Tasmania was "prepared to respond" and had enacted its bird flu plan.