A dead dolphin discovered at Goolwa on South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula has tested positive for H5N1 bird flu, marking what authorities describe as a new development in Australia’s outbreak. The detection adds to the growing list of unusual infections as the virus continues to spread across wildlife.
South Australia’s Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) confirmed the result, noting that while dolphin infections have been recorded overseas, this is the first known case in Australia. Chief veterinary officer Dr Skye Fruean said the dolphin likely contracted the virus after eating or closely interacting with an infected wild bird, adding that dolphins are “highly susceptible” to H5N1.
Dr Fruean said global reports remain rare because infected dolphins seldom wash ashore. The case follows a positive H5N1 detection in a red fox found in Adelaide’s north‑west earlier in the week, signalling the virus’s widening reach across species.
Australia has now recorded more than 350 positive bird flu events, with South Australia accounting for 249 cases after 46 new detections overnight. PIRSA said the spike was due to a new provision allowing the state to confirm positive results without waiting for verification from the CSIRO’s national laboratory in Geelong.
Dr Fruean said the change would speed up response times: “We’ve been conducting testing here at our lab in Adelaide in parallel with ACDP, and we’re consistently getting the same results.”
The dolphin’s infection underscores the evolving nature of the outbreak as authorities continue intensive surveillance across the state.
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