First Australian mainland mammal death from bird flu confirmed in dreaded advance of killer virus

A long-nosed fur seal has become the first confirmed mammal on the mainland to die of the deadly bird flu virus spreading through Australia, a development in the progression of the virus long expected but dreaded by scientists.

Australia has recorded its first case of bird flu in a mammal after a fur seal tested positive in South Australia.

Australia has recorded its first case of bird flu in a mammal after a fur seal tested positive in South Australia.

SANKA VIDANAGAMA/Contributor/Getty Images Australia has crossed another grim threshold in its H5N1 bird flu outbreak. For the first time, the virus has infected an Australian mainland mammal: a long-nosed fur seal found dead at Beachport on South Australia’s Limestone Coast, about a four-hour drive southeast of Adelaid

The agriculture minister says it's distressing but not unexpected to see other wildlife getting infected.

Seal found dead at Beachport in South Australia on Wednesday follows three mass mortality events in terns Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast A long-nosed fur seal has died from H5 bird flu in South Australia, marking the first confirmed