The first case of H5 avian influenza confirmed in Australia, the last continent where the disease had not reached until now.

The Australian government announced on Saturday the confirmation of the first case of highly contagious H5 avian influenza in a migratory bird, the "brown skua," in Western Australia. Agriculture Minister Julie Collins stated that the virus is now present on all continents, and samples from another bird, a giant petrel, suggest a possible positive result.

Although no cases of mass mortality have been recorded, authorities have invested 100 million Australian dollars to prepare for a possible outbreak. The H5 strain has caused severe illness in domestic and wild birds, and experts are concerned about a mutation that could allow human-to-human transmission.

An emergency meeting has been convened to formulate a national health response, and authorities are investigating how the virus arrived in Australia. Avian influenza could severely impact the country's unique wildlife, and a protection plan for 35 threatened species has been implemented.