AdvertisementNationalVictoriaBiosecurity First detection of deadly H5N1 bird flu confirmed in Victoria Benjamin Preiss and Mike Foley July 30, 2026 — 4:23pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Share A A AAuthorities in Victoria are increasing surveillance of wild animal populations after the detection of the state’s first case of the potentially catastrophic new strain of H5N1 bird flu. Bird flu has been detected in greater crested terns in South Australia and Victoria. The detection of a separate bird flu strain on farms in 2024 resulted in about 1.3 million birds being euthanised, followed by about 600,000 in 2025. “The tern was confirmed positive to H5 bird flu shortly after.”