Australia Moves to Protect Rare Birds From H5N1

Australia is preparing to vaccinate its most vulnerable native bird species following the spread of the H5N1 virus. The program is set to begin in the coming weeks, with priority given to captive-bred birds.

Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said the selection of species would depend on their susceptibility to infection and the potential impact on wildlife conservation.

“We have made it very clear that we cannot stop the spread of H5 avian influenza among wild birds, but we can take steps to protect the most endangered species, and vaccination is now part of that response”, she said.

Around 45% of Australia’s roughly 850 bird species are endemic, meaning they are found nowhere else in the world.

Last week, the country recorded its first mass die-off of seabirds caused by the virus. H5N1 was first detected in Australia in June among migratory seabirds before spreading to native species last month.

Australia was the last continent to report avian influenza, although the virus had already been detected on the sub-Antarctic Heard Island in late 2025.

(Reuters, bak)