### [2026-06-18](/feed/2026/06/18/index.md)

##### Australia
# Australian researchers report that an H5 avian influenza outbreak on Heard Island and McDonald Islands has killed more than 13,000 southern elephant seal pups and has infected local bird and penguin populations, marking the virus's first detection in an Australian external territory. 




### Sources:

1. [AFP via ''The Straits Times](https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/australianz/bird-flu-kills-13000-seal-pups-on-remote-australian-island)

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