Bird Flu Hits South Australia's Sea Lion Population
South Australia has recorded its first confirmed case of H5 bird flu in an Australian sea lion, found at Seal Bay on Kangaroo Island. The state's environment minister, Emily Bourke, has confirmed the detection, which comes after a similar case in a fur seal was reported last month.
South Australia has recorded its first confirmed detection of H5 bird flu in an Australian sea lion, according to Environment Minister Emily Bourke.
The infected sea lion was found at Seal Bay on Kangaroo Island. The entire sea lion population is estimated to be fewer than 10,000, with 85 per cent residing in South Australia and the remaining 15 per cent in Western Australia.
"About 85 per cent of the Australian sea lion population is found in South Australia," Minister Bourke said.
This detection comes after the virus was found in a long-nosed fur seal in SA's south-east last month, marking Australia's first positive case in a mammal.