More than 1,000 birds found dead in three mass mortality events amid ‘significant’ H5 escalation in Australia

A dead greater crested tern at Pelican Point in South Australia. Photograph: Veronica Miller

The South Australian premier, Peter Malinauskas, has declared a “significant escalation” in H5 bird flu in the state after the detection of three mass mortality events involving more than 1,000 greater crested terns.

Malinauskas said the cause of the deaths was presumed to be H5 bird flu.