Australia's CSIRO is examining a red fox for suspected H5N1 avian influenza infection, representing its first terrestrial mammal test for the virus. Ongoing cases of avian flu across Australia pose a growing threat to local wildlife. Impacted species include an elephant seal in a Victorian outbreak hotspot, with a case recently detected in Merri-bek.
In South Dakota, avian flu has hit 77,700 birds, increasing the total four-year outbreak total to 8.1 million birds. In addition to these reported cases, experts caution that feeding birds in backyards can turn into a primary transmission route.