Endangered sea lions living along WA’s coastline are under the threat of extinction, scientists warn, as concern grows over two confirmed cases of the highly contagious bird flu.

The first infection of H5 bird flu in Australia has been confirmed, sparking warnings an outbreak will cause widespread animal deaths.

Testing took place overnight with the WA state government confirming on Saturday morning that a multi-agency approach to the outbreak is now being coordinated.

Experts have urged Australians to get their annual vaccination after a highly pathogenic strain of bird flu was discovered in Western Australia.

The bird flu straing that arrived in Australia for the time last week has already caused the deaths of hundreds of millions of birds and mammals around the world.

Endangered sea lions living along WA’s coastline are under the threat of extinction, scientists warn, as concern grows over two confirmed cases of the highly contagious bird flu.

Seabirds such as wandering albatross could continue to bring the deadly H5N1 bird flu from the Antarctic outbreak to Australia.

Federal government identifies more than 150 native and unique bird species and 10 mammal species at ‘very high risk’

Three cases of the deadly strain have been found in Western Australia, in Esperance and Quindalup, while a fourth has been discovered in South Australia.