South Australia Reports 7 New Suspected H5N1 Bird Flu Cases

South Australia reported seven new suspected cases of H5N1 bird flu on Monday, July 27, detected in great terns in the Limestone Coast region in the state’s southeast. South Australian Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister Clare Scriven said five of the suspected birds were found in the same town within a two-day window. Samples were initially tested locally and then sent to the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness for confirmatory analysis to determine whether local transmission occurred. If confirmed, Australia’s total H5N1 cases would rise to 27 since the strain was first detected on the mainland in mid-June. Authorities plan to increase surveillance of seabird habitats. Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said there have been no mass mortality events linked to H5N1 and no traces found in commercial poultry or farms, keeping human health risk low.