Australia to vaccinate at-risk native birds against H5N1 avian influenza

Australia is set to start inoculating at-risk native bird populations against the lethal H5N1 strain of avian influenza as the virus spreads more widely following its initial discovery in June.

Speaking to reporters in Canberra on Tuesday, agriculture minister Julie Collins confirmed that the immunisation drive would start over the “coming days and weeks”, with the initial focus on priority species held in captivity.

"The priority species will be identified based on vulnerability to the H5 bird flu and the potential conservation impact,” she said. “We've been very clear that we cannot stop the H5 bird flu from spreading amongst wild birds but we can take action to protect the species most at risk, and the vaccination is now part of that response."

In a similar move, neighbouring New Zealand decided in July to launch a vaccination programme for 300 key breeding birds belonging to five of its most endangered species.

Government data shows that roughly 45 per cent of Australia’s 850 bird species are endemic, meaning they are entirely unique to the country and are not found anywhere else on the planet.

The vaccination announcement came after Australia reported its first mass death among seabirds last week, escalating an outbreak which began when the influenza virus was detected in migratory species before spreading to local native birds last month.

Australia was the last continent to report bird flu, although the virus had previously been identified in late 2025 on the sub-Antarctic territory of Heard Island.