Avian Influenza Information
Since the beginning of 2022, the increasing intensity of highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of seabirds in the Northern Hemisphere, around the Atlantic, Pacific Ocean and Southern Africa. It is possible that avian influenza will arrive in the Falkland Islands, with migratory birds as the most probable vectors. Migrant birds returning to the Islands and mixing with local wild birds could transmit the virus, this coincides with the arrival of penguins and other seabirds for the breeding season. It is also possible for avian influenza to be introduced to the Islands through visitors clothing and outdoor equipment entering the Islands.
Avian influenza Falkland Islands Government Biosecurity Guidance Booklet - Updated
HPAI Bird Flu and Biosecurity Checklist updated 2024:
Suspect and confirmed cases of avian influenza in the Falkland Islands
Last updated 4th August 2025
|
DATE |
AREA |
SPECIES |
DATE TESTED |
RESULTS |
ACTION |
|
30/10/2023 |
Stanley |
Southern Fulmar x1 bird |
30/10/2023 POSITIVE |
02/11/2023 |
Isolated case - temporary control |
|
13/11/2023 |
Pebble Island |
Southern Fulmar x1 bird |
13/11/2023 POSITIVE |
16/11/2023 |
Isolated case - Level 1 response, increase biosecurtiy only IP lifted 01/12/2023 |
|
20/11/2023 |
Saunders Island |
Black Browed Albatross x1 bird only; found dead |
20/11/2023 POSITIVE |
23/11/2023 |
Isolated case - Level 1 response, increase biosecurity only IP lifted 07/12/2023 |
|
15/12/2023 |
Steeple Jason |
Black Browed Albatross |
28/11/2023 POSITIVE |
15/12/2023 |
Level 3 response, access to Island is prohibited |
|
19/01/2024 |
Sea Lion Island |
Gentoo penguin x2 |
11/01/2024 POSITIVE |
19/01/2024 |
Level 1 response, people can now travel to Island but strict biosecuity arrangements still in place. |
|
29/01/2024 |
New Island |
Skua x1 bird only; |
25/01/2024 POSITIVE |
27/01/2024 |
Isolated case - Level 1 response, increase biosecurity IP lifted 22/02/2024 |
|
03/02/2024 |
Surf Bay |
Gentoo x1 bird only |
06/02/2024 |
07/02/2024 |
Islolated case - Level 1 response, increase biosecurity IP lifted 21/02/2024 |
|
13/02/2024 |
Stanley Common |
Hawk x1 bird only; |
12/02/2024 |
12/02/2024 |
Isolated case - level 1 response, increase biosecurity IP lifted 27/02/2024 |
|
07/03/2024 |
New Island |
Skua x3 birds; |
06/03/2024 |
06/03/2024 |
Level 1 response, increase biosecurity |
|
07/03/2024 |
Carcass Island |
Skua x2 dead & Gentoo penguin x2 highly suspect; |
06/03/2024 |
06/03/2024 |
Level 2 response, restricted access, essential persons only |
|
04/04/2024 |
Stanley |
Crested Caracara x1 bird only; |
03/04/2024 |
04/04/2024 |
Isolated case - level 1 response, location where bird was found is an infected place, public to follow biosecurity guidelines |
|
16/09/2024 |
Surf Bay |
Gentoo penguin x1 bird only; found dead |
11/09/2024 |
16/09/2024 |
Level 1 response, increase biosecurity IP lifted 02/10/2024 |
|
15/10/2024 |
Arch Rocks, Lively Island |
Gentoo penguin x3 sampled |
11/10/2024 |
15/10/2024 |
Level 1 response, increased biosecurity, no non-essential access IP lifted 18/12/2024 |
|
15/10/2024 |
Volunteer Point (Volunteer Green and Cow Bay) |
Gentoo penguins x2 sampled
|
10/10/2024
|
15/10/2024 |
Level 3 response, restricted access at Cow Bay, no non-essential access. Volunteer Green reduced to level 1, follow biosecurity guidance IP lifted 31/01/2025 |
|
05/11/2024
|
Beach Point, Port Harriet |
Gentoo penguin x1 sampled |
31/10/2024 |
04/11/2024 |
Level 1 response, increased biosecurity IP lifted 08/01/2025 |
|
05/11/2024 |
Surf Bay, Stanley |
Gentoo penguin x1 bird only; found dead |
30/10/2024 |
04/11/2024 |
Level 1 response, increased biosecurity IP lifted 18/11/2024 |
|
05/11/2024 |
Wood Cove, Port Stephens |
Gentoo penguin x1 sampled |
31/10/2024 |
04/11/2024 |
Level 3 response, restriced access IP lifted 18/12/2024 |
|
05/11/2024
|
South Beach, Sealion Island
|
Weaner Elephant Seal x1 found dead
|
30/10/2024
|
04/11/2024
|
Level 1 response, increased biosecurity IP lifted 02/12/2024 |
|
07/11/2024 |
Yorke Bay Gentoo Colony |
Gentoo penguins x1 sampled |
07/11/2024 |
12/11/2024 |
Level 1 response, increased biosecurity IP lifted 11/04/2025 |
|
13/11/2024 |
Hookers Point, Surf Bay |
Antartic Tern x1 bird only; |
11/11/2024 |
13/11/2024 |
Level 1 response, increased biosecurity IP lifted 27/11/2024 |
|
29/11/2024 |
Bluff Cove Lagoon |
Gentoo penguins x3 sampled |
26/11/2024 |
27/11/2024 |
Level 1 response, increased biosecurity IP lifted 11/04/2025 |
|
29/11/2024 |
Volenteer Lagoon |
Gentoo penguin x1 sampled |
25/11/2024 |
27/11/2024 |
Level 1 response, increased biosecurity IP lifted 08/01/2025 |
|
06/12/2024 |
Fox Point, Fitzroy |
Gentoo penguins x3 sampled |
03/12/2024 |
04/12/2024 |
Level 1 response, increased biosecurity IP lifted 03/03/2025 |
|
06/12/2024 |
Sea Lion Island, West of Cow Bay |
Elephant seal x1 only; found dead |
01/12/2024 |
04/12/2024 |
Level 1 response, increased biosecurity IP lifted 18/12/2024 |
|
20/12/2024 |
Albemarle Gentoo Colony |
Gentoo chick x1 sampled |
16/12/2024 |
20/12/2024 |
Level 1 response, increased biosecurity IP lifted 08/01/2025 |
|
16/01/2025 |
Whale Point (Kelp Point), Fitzroy Farm |
Gentoo chick x1 sampled |
14/01/2025 |
15/01/2024 |
Level 1 response, increased biosecurity IP lifted 11/04/2025 |
|
25/02/2025
|
Bleaker Island FK/059/25 |
Skua x2 sampled; |
21/01/2025 |
19/02/2025 |
Level 1 response, increased biosecurity IP lifted 03/03/2025 |
|
05/03/2025 |
Cape Dolphin Laskaridis Acreages Colony FK/124/25 |
Gentoo penguins x3 sampled; |
02/03/2025 |
05/03/2025 |
Level 1 response, increased biosecurity REVIEW 01/09/2025 |
|
14/03/2025 |
Volunteer Point (Volunteer Green and Cow Bay) |
Gentoo penguins x2 sampled; |
05/03/2025 |
13/05/2025 |
Level 1 response, increased biosecurity REVIEW 01/09/2025 |
|
24/03/2025 |
North Pond on Moss Side Farm FK/158/25 |
Gentoo penguin x1 sampled; |
15/03/2025 |
21/03/2025 |
Level 1 response, increased biosecurity IP lifted 02/06/2025 |
|
24/03/2025 |
Steeple Jason FK/190/25 |
Gentoo penguin x3 sampled and Brown Skuas x2 sampled; |
07/03/2025 |
21/03/2025 |
Level 1 response, increased biosecurity IP lifted 11/04/2025 |
|
04/04/2025 |
Little Creek Farm |
Gentoo penguin x1 sampled; found dead |
28/03/2025 |
02/04/2025 |
Level 1 response, increased biosecurity IP lifted 11/04/2025
|
|
24/04/2025 |
Megabid, Stanley FK/248/25 |
Gull x1 sampled; found dead |
11/04/2025 |
23/04/2025 |
Level 1 response, increased biosecurity IP lifted 20/05/2025 |
Information for visitors:
Avian Influenza Posters:
For more information on avian influenza please visit the Bird Flu (Avian Influenza) 2022 page on the Environmental Department page; Information Campaign Falkland Islands Avian Influenza
