<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australian scientists suspect there is a breakout of highly contagious </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/bird-flu" rel="" target="_blank" title="bird flu"><span>bird flu</span></a><span> in wildlife in Australian territory.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>At this stage, it is not a "confirmed outbreak" of H5 avian influenza, but Australian Antarctic Program scientists on an environmental management visit have observed unusual levels of mortality in elephant seals on Heard Island in recent days.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There were no observations of unusual levels of mortality in other species present on the island, including penguins and other seabirds.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/kill-crew-trio-charged-with-kidnapping-and-murdering-alleged-drug-syndicate-members-wife/95a87355-f90b-494e-8a7c-af264c627225" target="_blank"><strong><span>'Kill crew' trio charged with murdering alleged drug syndicate member's wife</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In a joint media release, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry, and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water, said seeing signs consistent with H5 bird flu on Heard Island was "not unexpected".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This virus has previously been found on the French Kerguelen and Crozet sub-Antarctic islands, which are less than 450km from Heard and McDonald Islands," the release said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The scientists have safely collected samples for the CSIRO to analyse when their vessel, the RSV Nuyina, returns to Australia mid-November.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/bird-flu-found-in-elephant-seals-in-antarctica-australia-territory/d17113b5-d775-45eb-a3f8-5d94718b4f78" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/mums-vaccine-plea-after-fit-athletic-daughter-almost-dies-from-meningococcal-b/475f67ce-49c7-4c78-81d2-3bb3f771a608" target="_blank"><strong><span>Mum's plea after athletic daughter almost dies from 'cruel' disease</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australia remains the only continent free from the highly contagious strain of H5 bird flu.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"A confirmed detection on Heard Island would not substantially increase the risk to Australia," the media release said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But it said the suspected outbreak emphasised the need for vigilance.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple App Store</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>.</span></em></strong></div></div>