Tasmania reports first H5N1 bird flu case, completing Australia-wide detection

Bird flu is a sickness that makes birds very ill.

A kind of bird flu called H5N1 has now been found in Tasmania, an island state in Australia.

A big sea bird called a brown skua was found dead on the coast, and tests showed it had the virus.

This is the first time the virus has been seen in Tasmania, and it has now been found in every state in Australia.

The virus was first seen in Western Australia in June.

The government has bought special medicine, called a vaccine, to protect birds.

They will give it to special birds kept safe, including the very rare orange-bellied parrot.

Scientists and officials are watching the coast carefully for sick birds.

Officials say they are ready to help if more birds get sick.