Australia records 1st case of bird flu in mammal

Australia on Sunday confirmed its first case of bird flu in a mammal after a long-nosed fur seal found in South Australia tested positive for the virus, local media reported.

Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins told reporters that the seal was found at Beachport, 300 kilometers south of the state capital Adelaide, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

"Although this is a concerning development, it is not unexpected for us to start to see infection in other wildlife, particularly in marine mammals, particularly in areas where there are high infection rates in wild birds," Collins said.

The infection was likely caused by exposure to infected wild birds or their shared environment, she said, adding that the detection did not appear to be associated with any other sick or dead marine mammals.

There have now been 298 positive H5 bird flu cases recorded in Australia since the outbreak, with 194 of those in South Australia.

"At this stage there is no evidence of infection in our poultry or agriculture systems," Collins said.

South Australia Environment Minister Emily Bourke said there were "devastating numbers" of detections in the state, with the fur seal case "something we always knew would be coming."

She said there is "no cure" or ability to stop bird flu, but the government is working very closely with the federal government on its national vaccination program.

She urged pet owners to keep their dogs on leads and cats indoors.