Australia will begin targeted vaccination of vulnerable bird species as authorities step up efforts to contain the spread of H5 bird flu, which has already caused deaths among wild birds.
The virus was detected in Australia for the first time in June after it was found in a migratory seabird. Authorities reported the country’s first large-scale wildlife deaths from the virus last week.
Environment Minister Murray Watt said vaccination would focus mainly on birds kept in captivity, although officials would also vaccinate wild birds where practical.
Vaccinating wild birds is difficult because they need two doses, Watt said.
“It is difficult to catch wild birds once, let alone twice,” he said, adding that captive birds would be the main priority.
Agriculture Minister Julie Collins warned that Australia could see more large-scale bird deaths as the virus spreads to new areas.
Waterfowl, shorebirds, seabirds and birds of prey are among the wild species considered particularly vulnerable to H5 bird flu.
As of Monday, authorities had recorded 231 confirmed or suspected H5 detections across Australia.
No cases have so far been found in poultry or the country’s agricultural production system.
Australia had remained the only continental landmass without the H5 strain for years.
The virus has caused serious illness and deaths among domestic and wild birds in many parts of the world.
The spread is a particular concern for Australia because almost half of its wild bird species are found nowhere else.
About 83 percent of its mammal species are also unique to the country.
The impact has already been seen on the remote Heard and McDonald Islands.
Australian scientists said in June that H5 bird flu had killed more than 13,000 elephant seal pups after reaching a breeding colony there.
Authorities are now preparing for the virus to spread further while trying to protect species considered most at risk.
-20260811071247.jpg)
-20260811063730.jpg)
-(22)-20260805184343.jpeg)
