Australia should vaccinate threatened wildlife against bird flu
Experts are calling for Australia to implement a proactive vaccination strategy for threatened wildlife to combat the spread of H5N1 bird flu. While the government has a policy for emergency vaccination, critics argue it is too cautious and fails to address the vulnerability of marine mammals.
Why it matters
As H5N1 spreads globally, the debate over wildlife vaccination strategies is critical for preventing mass die-offs and potential local extinctions of endangered species.
With H5N1 now killing Australian wild birds, targeted vaccination could help protect threatened species and prevent local extinctions before catastrophe strikes.
Australia has confirmed deadly H5N1 bird flu has been found in 102 wild seabirds across five states at the time of writing, including the country's first mass death of birds.
The question is no longer if this virus can harm Australian wildlife, but whether we should use every available tool to protect species most at risk .
Vaccination cannot stop H5N1 spreading through wildlife. But it could prevent an outbreak from killing all of the at-risk species in an area – a tragic local extinction.
Australia should begin targeted vaccination of threatened birds. It should also urgently develop a strategy for seals and sea lions, rather than waiting until thousands are dead.
A policy exists, but action remains too cautious
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in