H5 Bird Flu Alert: Elephant Seal and Kelp Gull in Australia’s Macquarie Island Test Positive for Virus, Sparking Fears – Check Symptoms, Treatment & More

By Anushka Singh

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H5 Bird Flu Alert: Elephant Seal and Kelp Gull in Australia’s Macquarie Island Test Positive for Virus, Sparking Fears – Check Symptoms, Treatment & More — Photo credit: Sunday Guardian

H5 Bird Flu Alert: The H5 bird flu was detected among samples of a southern elephant seal and a kelp gull, in Australia’s Macquarie Island today. The discovery has raised concerns about the virus’ impact on local wildlife. Local authorities clarified that there was no mass mortality event in this case.

What is H5 Bird Flu?

H5 bird flu, or H5 avian influenza, is a viral illness that mainly infects birds, though it can also affect some mammals. Strains of H5 that are highly pathogenic can lead to serious disease and high death rates in infected birds, and they have impacted wild mammals in various regions of the world.

The virus spreads via contact with infected animals, their bodily fluids, droppings, and contaminated surroundings. It can also be transmitted through contaminated equipment, footwear, or clothing that carries infectious material. Transmission cases of the H5 virus generally involve animals.

H5 Bird Flu: Symptoms & Treatment

Some common symptoms of the H5 bird flu among affected species include:

Originally published by Sunday Guardian on Oct 15, 2026 Read the full article at sundayguardianlive.com

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