Mass deaths expected from bird flu, says minister | ABC News Top Stories

The federal environment minister says Australia is preparing to see mass deaths of birds and mammals from bird flu.Yesterday, Australia confirmed its first case of H5 bird flu detected in a mammal, a fur seal found dead in South Australia's south east.There's now a second suspected case that's been discovered, also in a seal in SA.A major Australian study has found parents caring for young children with disability are twice as likely to experience psychological distress and nearly twice as likely to say they're not in good health.The results also show they are 50 per cent more likely to feel parenting is demanding, compared to carers without children with disability.It comes as the government prepares to divert some families from the National Disability Insurance Scheme onto the new Thriving Kids program, which begins in October.Authorities in France say there's been more than 300 drownings in the past two months...linking the sharp rise in deaths compared to last year to prolonged heatwaves.A government minister announced the 14-per-cent hike, saying the drownings were recorded in open water and in areas that are not authorised or supervised for swimming.Climate change is driving up temperatures around the world - but particularly in Europe.For more news at any time you can follow the ABC News Top Stories podcast.