While it hasn’t been officially confirmed as an outbreak of H5 avian influenza, scientists from the Australian Antarctic Program have recently noted an unusual number of elephant seal deaths on Heard Island during a routine environmental management visit.

Interestingly, other species on the island, such as penguins and various seabirds, have not shown similar patterns of unusual mortality.

According to a joint announcement by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry, along with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water, the potential presence of H5 bird flu on Heard Island isn’t entirely unexpected.

The announcement highlighted that this virus has been previously detected on the French islands of Kerguelen and Crozet, located less than 450 kilometers from Heard and McDonald Islands.

In response, scientists have carefully collected samples, which will be analyzed by CSIRO when the research vessel RSV Nuyina makes its return to Australia in mid-November.

Heard Island is part of the Heard Island and McDonald Islands external Australian territory, more than 4000km south-west of Perth and 1700km north of Antarctica in the Southern Ocean.

Australia remains the only continent free from the highly contagious strain of H5 bird flu.

“A confirmed detection on Heard Island would not substantially increase the risk to Australia,” the media release said.

But it said the suspected outbreak emphasised the need for vigilance.