A little penguin found on Phillip Island in Victoria has tested positive for the H5 bird flu virus, marking the first recorded case of the disease in the species. The discovery was confirmed shortly after the Victorian state government announced plans to begin a vaccination program for the local penguin population.

While the government has confirmed the death of the bird, officials have not disclosed the specific location where it was found. However, they have clarified that the incident did not occur within the boundaries of the island’s well-known penguin parade tourist attraction.

In response to the positive test, the government is accelerating its efforts to protect the colony. A vaccination rollout for thousands of birds is scheduled to commence this coming Monday. The emergence of the virus in this population has created a sense of urgency, as conservationists and government agencies work to mitigate the potential spread of the disease among the island's wildlife. While both ABC Australia and The Guardian report the confirmation of the virus and the subsequent vaccination plans, they differ slightly in their focus; ABC Australia provides a concise headline identifying the virus as H5N1, whereas The Guardian identifies it as H5 and emphasizes the timing of the vaccination rollout in relation to the discovery.