Suspected mass bird flu deaths found in second state as Murray Watt warns ‘this is the beginning’

Australian authorities confirmed the country's first mass mortality event from H5N1 bird flu among wild seabirds off the South Australian coast, and officials warned the virus is likely to keep spreading. Helicopter surveillance found 49 dead and 35 sick greater crested terns on rocks off Cape Jaffa, south of Adelaide, and testing confirmed H5N1 in the group. A second suspected mass bird death event was later detected in another Australian state. Officials said there is no evidence yet of the virus on Australian poultry farms, though further wildlife spread is expected.