Australia to roll out H5 bird flu vaccines for captive birds

Australia’s federal government said it will begin vaccinating captive native bird species against the H5 avian influenza virus in the coming weeks, starting with endangered birds held in zoos and conservation breeding facilities.

Officials presented the rollout as an added layer in response as confirmed infections are reported in multiple states and among a broader range of wild bird species. Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said the first focus will include threatened species such as the orange-bellied parrot and the regent honeyeater.

Vaccination to be led by states, with facilities and species to be set

Officials said state governments will manage the vaccination program. States are expected to decide which species and which facilities are included in the opening phases, and to announce the initial target lists as operational plans are finalised. Collins said the is to shield high-risk species as authorities prepare for further mass mortality events linked to the virus. The government said it is prioritising birds already considered at elevated risk, particularly those threatened with extinction that are maintained in captive breeding programs. Limits on vaccinating wild birds, including a two-dose course Environment Minister Murray Watt said the government also wants to vaccinate wild birds where that is feasible, but described it as difficult. Watt said a full course requires two doses, and officials said that requirement restricts what can realistically be done for free-roaming wild bird populations.

One unresolved issue flagged by officials is how the two-dose regimen would be delivered for any wild birds that can be reached. Officials said planning is continuing as the virus spreads among wild bird populations, with states expected to set out practical arrangements as they complete their rollout designs.

Trials preceded the decision Trials preceded the decision, but data gaps remain Australia’s chief veterinary officer, Beth Cookson, said the decision follows 18 months of trials and pilot work that assessed vaccine safety and effectiveness across different species. Cookson said the vaccines available were developed for commercial poultry, and authorities are continuing to gather safety information on how a range of native birds respond. Cookson said the government has not identified which species or facilities participated in the pilot program. She said the information collected so far will be used to prioritise vaccination only where there is sufficient safety evidence for particular native species. Confirmed detections in three states and a reporting change Officials said confirmed cases have been detected in South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales. They said infections include detections in silver gulls and peregrine falcons as authorities track spread among wild birds.

As the outbreak develops, the federal government said it will change how it reports publicly, moving away from daily case counts. Officials said future updates will instead focus on major events such as mass mortalities, reflecting what they described as the practical difficulty of containing the virus once it is circulating in wild bird populations.