Australia has confirmed its first case of H5N1 avian influenza in a remote area of the country’s southwest, Agriculture Minister Julie Collins announced on Saturday.

Collins said laboratory testing confirmed the infection in a bird found on a beach approximately 700 kilometers southeast of Perth, the capital of Western Australia.

The announcement follows confirmation on Friday that a migratory seabird discovered in a national park in Western Australia had tested positive for avian influenza.

Australian authorities have been preparing for the potential arrival of the H5N1 strain by strengthening biosecurity measures on farms, monitoring coastal bird populations, vaccinating vulnerable species, and conducting emergency response exercises.