ADELAIDE — Australia on Sunday confirmed its first case of bird flu in a mammal after a long-nosed fur seal found in South Australia tested positive for the virus, according to local media.Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said the seal was found at Beachport, about 300 kilometers south of the South Australian capital, Adelaide.“Although this is a concerning development, it is not unexpected for us to start to see infection in other wildlife, particularly in marine mammals, particularly in areas where there are high infection rates in wild birds,” Collins said.She said the infection was likely caused by exposure to infected wild birds or a shared environment and that the detection did not appear to be associated with any other sick or dead marine mammals.Australia has recorded 298 positive H5 bird flu cases since the outbreak began, including 194 in South Australia.“At this stage there is no evidence of infection in our poultry or agriculture systems,” Collins said.South Australia Environment Minister Emily Bourke said the state had recorded “devastating numbers” of detections and that authorities had anticipated the virus could eventually spread to marine mammals.Bourke said there was “no cure” or way to stop the virus but that the state government was working closely with the federal government on its national vaccination program.Authorities also urged pet owners to reduce the risk of exposure to infected wildlife by keeping dogs on leads and cats indoors.
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