Australia has begun rolling out vaccines against the H5N1 bird flu strain, with priority given to vulnerable native bird species and captive birds as cases continue to spread across the country.
Australia is set to distribute bird flu vaccines across the coming days and weeks, marking a significant response to the spread of the H5N1 strain that reached the continent in June. The government has allocated AU$2 million for approximately 1,500 vaccine vials, with state and territory authorities overseeing implementation. This comes after Australia became the last inhabited continent to report cases of the highly contagious disease, which has now been confirmed in over 230 instances.
The vaccination programme will prioritise native bird species and captive birds deemed most vulnerable to infection. Agriculture Minister Julie Collins indicated that while the government cannot entirely halt the disease's spread among wild bird populations, targeted vaccination efforts can protect at-risk species. Earlier this month, authorities released an assessment identifying some native species facing potential extinction risks and hundreds of others vulnerable to severe population declines due to the outbreak.
Environment Minister Murray Watt noted that vaccinated birds would require two doses each. Australia witnessed its first mass mortality event from the virus last week when approximately 50 greater crested terns died on an island off South Australia's coast. Despite the expanding outbreak, Collins stated there remains low risk to human health and no evidence that the disease has affected domestic poultry or agricultural sectors.
Government officials have prepared Australians for continued disease spread, warning of more bird deaths and mass mortality events across the country in coming months.
