In a proactive move to safeguard its unique biodiversity, Australia has announced a vaccination campaign targeting wild populations of endangered animals against the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu. This initiative aims to minimize the strain's impact on the country’s iconic species.
Tanya Plibersek, Australia's Minister for the Environment, revealed on Sunday that environment officers will soon begin administering vaccines to vulnerable animals. Additionally, efforts include breeding captive insurance populations of threatened species and collecting carcasses to prevent the disease's spread.
Despite Australia being the only continent untouched by the H5N1 strain so far, experts warn that its arrival is inevitable. The current global outbreak has resulted in mass deaths among wild birds and certain mammal species, highlighting the urgency of Australia's preventative measures.
The federal government has allocated 95 million Australian dollars ($63.7 million) in new funding for biosecurity, environmental, and public health initiatives to fortify the nation against the impending threat. \"We are extremely worried about this variant of bird flu,\" Plibersek told Nine Entertainment newspapers. \"We know it's in Antarctica now. We know it's in Indonesia. We're the last continent that this variant hasn't hit. We're doing our very best to prepare for it, but the simple truth is we can't keep it out of the country. It's likely to have potentially catastrophic impacts on our wild animals.\"
The susceptibility of Australia's beloved marsupials, including koalas and kangaroos, to H5N1 transmission remains uncertain. While specific species targeted for vaccination are yet to be determined, priority will likely be given to those at highest risk of severe impact from an outbreak.
In a collaborative effort, Minister Plibersek chaired a meeting on Friday with environment ministers from Australia's states and territories, as well as representatives from New Zealand, to strategize and enhance protection measures against bird flu.
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Wild Australian species to be vaccinated against deadly H5N1 bird flu
cgtn.com
