Canberra, August 20, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Australian authorities will test 28 penguins found dead on King Island off Tasmania for H5N1 avian influenza, amid a growing number of detections of the highly pathogenic strain in wildlife across the country.
Tasmania’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment said surveillance teams discovered the dead penguins and three greater crested terns on Wednesday on King Island, located about 100 km off Tasmania’s northwest coast.
Incident controller Wes Ford said samples had been collected and sent for H5N1 testing. The dead birds were also scheduled to be collected on Thursday to help minimise the risk of further transmission.
“Tasmanians care deeply about our wildlife, and particularly our penguins, so we understand that reports like these may be distressing for the community,” Ford said.
Tasmania recorded its first confirmed H5N1 case on August 13, nearly two months after the virus was first detected on mainland Australia in June.
As of Thursday, 11 H5N1 cases had been confirmed in Tasmania, all in the state’s northwest or on King Island, according to Ford.
“We expect to continue receiving reports of sick and dead birds on King Island, along the northwest coast and in other parts of Tasmania,” he said.
Authorities have urged residents to take precautions to reduce the risk of exposure. Tasmanians have been advised to keep cats indoors, walk dogs on leads and avoid contact with sick or dead wildlife.
The federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry said 262 H5N1-positive events had been confirmed in Australian wildlife as of August 18.
However, the department said the virus had not been detected in poultry or the agricultural industry.
The latest findings on King Island are being assessed as authorities continue monitoring wildlife for further infections.
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