Australia Vaccinates Native Species Against Bird Flu
· Milliyet Ekonomi
Australia rolls out a vaccination program to protect at-risk native bird species following over 230 cases of H5N1.
The Australian government has launched a new action plan, following the number of H5N1 avian influenza cases nationwide exceeding 230, announcing that priority native bird species kept outside their natural habitats will be vaccinated.
Under the program, which states and territories will implement shortly, species will be determined based on their susceptibility to the disease. Environment Minister Murray Watt stated that due to the vaccine requiring two doses, efforts will focus on birds in human care. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins, explained the vaccination strategy:
We cannot stop the spread of H5 avian influenza among wild birds, but we can take measures to protect the species most at risk, and vaccination is now part of those measures.