AKP Phnom Penh, 28 August, 2026--
Authorities in South Australia (SA) on Friday reported 46 new confirmed H5N1 avian influenza events, including Australia's first case in a dolphin.
SA's Department of Primary Industries and Regions said in a statement that the common dolphin was found near the town of Goolwa, 65 km south of Adelaide.
Skye Fruean, SA's chief veterinary officer, told reporters that the dolphin had likely contracted the highly pathogenic strain by eating or interacting closely with an infected wild bird.
"We know that dolphins are highly susceptible, which means they are at risk," she said.
A report published by the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water earlier in August listed common dolphins as having a very high likelihood of infection with bird flu.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regions also on Friday confirmed that a red fox found in metropolitan Adelaide tested positive for the H5N1 strain, making it Australia's first detection in a land mammal.
The only two previous cases in mammals were in long-nosed fur seals also found in SA.
SA Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Clare Scriven said authorities believe the fox had also contracted the disease by eating an infected bird.
"It does emphasize the reason why we encourage people to keep their dogs and their cats in particular away from sick or dead wildlife and bird life because those dogs and cats can also be at risk," she said.
According to the latest data from the federal government, as of Thursday there had been 354 positive events of H5N1 in Australian wildlife since the strain was first detected on the mainland in June. More than half of these have been in SA.
No detections have been made in agricultural or poultry systems.

AKP-Xinhua