Escalating Threat of HPAI H5N1 Clade 2.3.4.4b to Australia: Emerging Concerns from Sub-Antarctic Observations and Implications for National Preparedness and Biosecurity

Authors

  • Pan Zhang Biosecurity Program, Kirby Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW 2033, Australia
  • Raina MacIntyre Biosecurity Program, Kirby Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW 2033, Australia
  • Mohana Kunasekaran Biosecurity Program, Kirby Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW 2033, Australia
  • Abrar Chughtai School of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW 2033, Australia
  • Noor Bari Biosecurity Program, Kirby Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW 2033, Australia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31646/gbio.343

Keywords:

Heard Island, HPAI H5N1,, Clade 2.3.4.4b, Australia

Abstract

The Australia mainland has thus far remained free from incursions of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b; however, the threat is escalating, particularly considering detections of the virus in Antarctica and Sub-Antarctic regions. While the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF) has been the primary hypothesised route for potential introduction, the emergence of cases in southern polar regions also highlights the need to consider the Southern Ocean Flyway as a credible transmission pathway.

Downloads

Published

2026-03-11

How to Cite

Zhang, P., MacIntyre, R., Kunasekaran, M., Chughtai, A., & Bari, N. (2026). Escalating Threat of HPAI H5N1 Clade 2.3.4.4b to Australia: Emerging Concerns from Sub-Antarctic Observations and Implications for National Preparedness and Biosecurity. Global Biosecurity, 8(88). https://doi.org/10.31646/gbio.343

Issue

Vol. 8 (2026)

Section

Research Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2026 The Author(s)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
  1. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
  2. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
  3. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
Received 2025-11-07
Accepted 2026-01-28
Published 2026-03-11