H5N1 bird flu jumps to marine mammals and wildlife in Australia

H5N1 avian influenza is tearing through southeastern Australia's wild bird populations, including little penguins, magpies, crested terns and pelicans, and officials say breeding-season gatherings will likely speed its jump into mammals. It has already reached a red fox in Adelaide, an endangered Australian sea lion, a common dolphin, and long-nosed fur seals, with South Australia also confirming the country's first pelican case.

Officials and researchers describe the sea lion and dolphin cases as especially alarming given how quickly the disease crossed species and its capacity to attack the central nervous system. Volunteers are now watching for dolphins with abnormal swimming, and the recommended containment strategy amounts to removing carcasses before scavengers spread the virus further.

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