Bird flu count rises, Shy Albatross vaccinated in world first
Tasmania has recorded 50 H5 bird flu events, prompting wildlife experts to initiate the world's first vaccination trial for the threatened Shy Albatross. Authorities are encouraging public reporting of sick birds while emphasizing that no commercial poultry flocks have been affected.
Why it matters
The trial represents a significant scientific effort to protect endangered species from a global avian influenza outbreak.
Tasmania has now recorded 50 H5 bird flu events since, with four additional detections confirmed in a Pacific Gull at St Helens, a Great Crested Tern at Bridport, a Little Penguin at Cooee and a Black Currawong on Flinders Island.
While new detections continue to be recorded, there are still no detections in commercial poultry or backyard flocks and no mass bird mortality events in Tasmania.
The Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania says wildlife veterinarians and seabird biologists have begun the world's first known attempt to vaccinate Shy Albatross against H5 bird flu. The threatened seabird breeds only on three remote Tasmanian islands and is considered highly vulnerable if the disease reaches breeding colonies.
The project will help improve our understanding of how vaccination may protect threatened wildlife and strengthen future response options, with birds monitored through remote cameras and follow-up visits.
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