Australia to Vaccinate Vulnerable Native Birds Against H5 Bird Flu

Australia will begin vaccinating its most vulnerable native birds against the deadly H5 strain of avian influenza in the coming days, as the virus continues to spread across the country. Agriculture Minister Julie Collins announced the rollout on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, confirming that the first vaccines are expected to be distributed within days and weeks. The program will initially focus on priority species held in captivity, such as in zoos and breeding programs, based on their vulnerability and risk of infection.

The vaccination campaign follows the confirmation of the country's first mass wildlife die-off linked to the virus last week. As of Monday, August 10, authorities had recorded 231 confirmed or suspected H5 avian influenza cases nationwide. South Australia has reported the majority of cases, with over 160, primarily in the South East region. Western Australia has recorded 210 cases, Victoria has 53, New South Wales has four, and Queensland has one. The H5N1 outbreak was first detected in Canberra in June.

"We've been very clear that we cannot stop the H5 bird flu from spreading amongst wild birds," Collins told reporters in Canberra. "But we can take action to...