Bird flu kills more than 75% of baby seals on remote Australian island, study finds
Scientists say 13,000 southern elephant seal pups on Heard Island have died of the H5N1 strain.
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"The seal deaths were 'sobering' and showed Australia must not be complacent in preparing for the strain possibly making it to the mainland."
— Murray Watt , Politician
"These observations of H5 bird flu at Heard Island and McDonald Island are the first detection in an Australian external territory and show the continued eastward movement of the virus around the sub-Antarctic."
— Dr Julie McInnes , Academic
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Scientists say 13,000 southern elephant seal pups on Heard Island have died of the H5N1 strain.
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