CONFIRMED bird flu cases on the Mornington Peninsula have climbed to 18, with the City of Frankston recording their first case last week.
Cases have been recorded in Dromana, Blairgowrie, Capel Sound, McCrae, Mt Eliza, Portsea, Pt Leo, Rosebud, Safety Beach, Sorrento, and St Andrews Beach.
All the peninsula detections have been in either greater crested terns or silver gulls.
The Frankston detection was in a greater crested tern.
There continue to be grave concerns for Western Port Bay’s wetlands that are a critical habitat for wildlife, and home to 65% of threatened bird species in Victoria.
Heightening the concern is nine cases in the Bass Coast LGA on the eastern side of Western Port Bay. Those detections include a number on Phillip Island, including one in the little penguin population on the island.
The reporting guidelines now ask for people to report clusters of five or more sick or dead wild birds of any species, but to report even a single sick or dead wild seabird, waterbird, shorebird, bird of prey or marine mammal (e.g. seal, dolphin).
If you find a sick or dead bird that you suspect could have H5 bird flu remember to:
n AVOID contact with sick or dead wildlife and their environment. Do not touch, move or approach the bird, and do not allow pets to touch or eat sick or dead wildlife.
n RECORD what you see, the location the animal was found, and take photos or video (if possible) without approaching the bird.
n REPORT any unusual illness or death in wild birds and other wildlife immediately via the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
First published in the Mornington News – 1 September 2026
