H5N1 Bird Flu Detected in Wild Seabird on Northern Beaches

Laboratory tests on a greater crested tern found on Northern Beaches identified the H5N1 avian influenza virus, a strain known for rapid transmission among birds and occasional spill‑over into mammals, including humans. The World Health Organization classifies H5N1 as a zoonotic influenza virus capable of causing mild to severe respiratory illness, conjunctivitis, and, in rare cases, fatal outcomes. Some individuals exposed to infected birds have tested positive without showing symptoms.