Phillip Island penguin succumbs to H5N1 as vaccination rollout moves ahead

A little penguin on Phillip Island has been confirmed dead from the H5N1 strain of bird flu, representing the first case among the island's penguin colony and one of three new detections. The virus has also killed a great crested tern in Lakes Entrance and another in Dromana, raising the state's known bird-flu incidents to 74, though officials suspect additional unreported cases.

Victoria's chief biodiversity officer James Todd warned that the affected areas host several at-risk bird species that could suffer heavy losses during the upcoming breeding season. Despite the detection, the vaccination campaign for little penguins on Phillip Island and St Kilda is set to begin on Monday, with permits and doses already supplied by federal authorities. Phillip Island Nature Park will continue operating while the inoculations are administered, and officials describe the early detection as a sign of vigilant surveillance. The response aims to safeguard the iconic penguin population that draws visitors from around the world.