First Australian death of little penguin with H5 bird flu confirmed on Phillip Island

Authorities confirm first Australian death of species found with virus near where it attracts crowds to a ‘penguin parade’

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Australia’s first case of the deadly H5 bird flu in a little penguin has been confirmed on Victoria’s Phillip Island, only days after the state government announced it would begin vaccinating the species.

Confirmation of the virus in the little penguin will spark a race to vaccinate thousands of birds, with the government announcing on Saturday it would begin the rollout on Monday.