Australia to vaccinate captive native birds as H5 avian flu spreads
Australia will begin vaccinating selected native bird species in captivity against H5 avian influenza, while officials examine the more difficult prospect of protecting wild birds.
In short
- Australia will begin vaccinating selected native bird species in captivity against H5 avian influenza, while officials examine the more difficult prospect of protecting wild birds.
Australia will roll out H5 avian influenza vaccinations for selected native bird species held in captivity as authorities prepare for further bird deaths linked to the virus.
Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said on August 11, 2026, that priority captive species would receive the first vaccinations in the coming days and weeks. The program comes as H5 bird flu continues to spread in Australia.
The federal government also hopes to vaccinate some wild birds. Officials have acknowledged that delivering the two-dose course in the wild would be difficult because individual birds would need to be caught more than once.
The initial focus on captive populations gives animal-health teams controlled access to vulnerable species while authorities assess whether vaccination can be extended practically beyond managed settings.
