Australia suspects local H5 bird flu transmission

Australia suspected its first local transmission of H5 bird flu on Wednesday after suspected cases on Kangaroo Island, prompting South Australia to suspend beach tours to protect wildlife.

Four suspected cases of bird flu were reported on Kangaroo Island, a popular tourism destination in South Australia that is home to one of the largest populations of endangered sea lions.

South Australia's minister for primary industries, Clare Scriven, said beach tours would be suspended on the island to protect sea lions. She said confirmation was expected later Wednesday of 11 new bird flu cases across South Australia.

"It is extremely likely that we do have that localised distribution that has occurred with these birds," Scriven said.

The national science laboratory this week confirmed seven cases in greater crested terns in South Australia, bringing the national total to 27 positive detections.

Australia's first H5 case was discovered in a migratory seabird in June. Australia had for years been the only continental landmass free of the H5 strain, which has caused severe disease and high death rates in poultry and wild birds worldwide.

The disease has raised concern for Australian fauna. Almost half of Australia's wild bird species, and 83 percent of its mammals, are found nowhere else.