Arabic version: فيكتوريا تؤكد وفاة ثعلب بإنفلونزا الطيور H5

According to ABC News, Victorian authorities have confirmed H5 bird flu in a red fox found dead at Torquay on the Surf Coast, the state’s first recorded case in a mammal. Authorities also suspect the virus killed a dolphin found dead at Lorne on Victoria’s south-west coast.

Acting chief veterinary officer Cameron Gunn said the fox was collected through ongoing surveillance and monitoring. He said authorities were not generally concerned that infected wild foxes and other scavenging pests would spread the virus, but said they could pose a greater risk by moving infected carcasses.

Victoria has recorded 212 positive bird cases from 892 investigations conducted since June 20. H5 bird flu has been detected in species including greater crested terns, magpies and little penguins. A little penguin on Phillip Island died from the virus last month, and the state has begun vaccinating that colony.

Chief biodiversity officer James Todd said detections in seals and dolphins were not unexpected and that the virus was expected to reach new species and parts of Victoria. Surveillance is being focused on high-risk areas including the Mornington Peninsula, Port Phillip Bay, Western Port Bay and the Gippsland Lakes as spring breeding season approaches.

About 1,000 little penguins have been vaccinated in Victoria, with penguins at Phillip Island and St Kilda Pier showing an immune response and no adverse impacts, Dr Todd said. He said vaccination was not a “silver bullet” and would be prioritised for threatened species held by Zoos Victoria and other wildlife centres. He warned wildlife would continue to suffer and die as the virus spreads.