PolicyTuesday, February 17, 2026The Guardian
Gentoo penguins the first birds on Australian territory to contract H5N1 as bird flu spreads
Gentoo penguins on Heard Island, part of Australian territory, have become the first birds in Australia to contract the H5N1 strain of bird flu, raising concerns about the spread of this virus to new species. The Australian Antarctic Program scientists are monitoring the situation closely as it highlights the impacts of wildlife diseases in fragile ecosystems.
