# Australia warns H5N1 may spread after first mass mortality event

https://mins.news/en/item/12281

- Al Jazeera, 2026-08-03 09:04 UTC
- Health
- Original: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/3/australia-warns-h5n1-likely-to-spread-after-first-mass-mortality-episode?traffic_source=rss

> Australia’s agriculture minister has warned that H5N1 bird flu is likely to spread further. Testing confirmed the virus in a group of terns affected by the episode. The group included 49 dead birds and 35 that were sick. The incident marks Australia’s first mass mortality event linked to the virus.

## Related coverage

- [Australia suspects first mass mortality event as H5N1 bird flu spreads rapidly among native birds](https://mins.news/en/item/11686) — The Guardian, 2026-08-01