Authorities say local transmission of H5 bird flu virus among South Australian birds signals ‘shift in the situation’ Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Australia has entered a new phase in dealing with the incursion of deadly H5N1 bird flu , with authorities confirming on Wednesday that local transmission of the highly virulent strain had taken place. “We have had what is suggestive of local transmission for the first time,” Julie Collins, the federal minister for agriculture, fisheries and forestry, said on Wednesday afternoon, after 11 new suspected detections were reported in South Australian birds. Continue reading...