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Sydney: Australia has detected the highly contagious H5 bird flu in a local seabird for the first time. Laboratory testing confirmed the virus infected a greater crested tern in Robe, South Australia. Previously, Australia was the only continental landmass free of this deadly disease.

A total of twelve H5 cases have been confirmed since June, but all prior cases were in migratory birds. Agriculture Minister Julie Collins stated that this new development is concerning but not unexpected. Currently, there is no evidence of mass wildlife deaths, and risk to human health remains low.

The South Australian state government has implemented enhanced surveillance in the local area. Officials worry the virus could threaten unique local species with extinction.

Scientists believe the disease arrived via wild birds migrating directly from the sub-Antarctic, where the strain recently killed more than 13,000 elephant seal pups.