Australian authorities announced plans to vaccinate native bird species held in captivity against H5 bird flu as the virus continues its spread throughout the country. Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins stated that vaccinations for target native species would begin in the coming days and weeks, with state governments responsible for managing the program and identifying which species would be prioritized.
The vaccination initiative will focus on captive birds, particularly endangered species that are part of conservation breeding programs in zoos and other facilities. These include species such as the orange-bellied parrot, regent honeyeater, and Western Australia’s black cockatoos. Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt acknowledged that vaccinating wild birds presents significant logistical challenges, as the vaccination process requires two doses and catching wild birds multiple times is difficult. However, the government indicated it would attempt to vaccinate wild bird populations where feasible.
Chief Veterinary Officer Beth Cookson explained that the vaccination rollout follows 18 months of trials examining safety and efficacy across various bird species. She noted that because existing vaccines were developed for poultry, the government needed to gather safety data specific to native Australian bird species, which vary considerably in size. The trials have provided initial safety information, and the government will continue gathering data to prioritize vaccination in species with sufficient evidence of safety.
The federal government announced a shift in its reporting approach, moving from daily case number updates to focusing on major events such as mass mortalities as infected species numbers increase. Recent mass mortalities have occurred in South Australia and Victoria, with the virus spreading to new species including silver gulls. Cases have also been detected in the Murray-Darling region for the first time. Meanwhile, researchers have called for the government to disclose which species will be vaccinated and to conduct trials on mammals at risk from bird flu, as no commercially available vaccines currently exist for mammals.
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