Migratory bird and marine mammal surveillance fails to find evidence for an HPAI H5N1 2.3.4.4b incursion into Australia in 2025

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) 2026 Preprint Open access

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Authors: Michelle Wille, Tobias A. Ross, Robyn Atkinson, David B. Boyle, Maureen Christie, Meagan L. Dewar, Tegan Douglas, Rachael B. Gray, Birgita Hansen, Rosalind Jessop, L C Kidd, Ila Marks
+7 more Patrick Mileto, E. Willard Miller, Matthew J. Neave, Sara Ryding, Duncan R. Sutherland, Hui Yu, Marcel Klaassen
DOI: 10.64898/2026.05.07.722556
Cited by: 1
References: 11

Abstract

Abstract The panzootic caused by high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b has been devastating for animals, globally. Despite global spread, the virus remains absent in Oceania. Herein we report the results of our fourth year of enhanced migratory bird surveillance, coinciding with the spring migration of wild birds in 2025; none of the 847 migratory wild birds or 38 marine mammals were positive for HPAI H5N1, although we did detect LPAI. Surveillance remains a critical tool for HPAI H5N1 response, with early detection and rapid response being critical to mitigate the impacts of this virus on animal, environment and human health.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Influenza Virus Research Studies Zoonotic diseases and public health Respiratory viral infections research

Publication details

Journal / source
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
Publisher
openRxiv
Publication date
8 May 2026
Document type
Preprint