\n<\/p>\n
Australia will roll out bird flu vaccines in the “coming days and weeks” with native species and birds in captivity first in line for protection from the deadly disease.<\/b><\/p>\n
On Tuesday, the government said that it had AU$2m ($1.4m, \u00a31m) worth of vaccinations for the H5N1 strain – about 1,500 vials – with states and territories to manage the rollout.<\/p>\n
Australia reported its first case of the highly contagious strain in June, making it the last continent to be impacted. Since then, more than 230 cases have been confirmed.<\/p>\n
Last week, it saw its first mass mortality from bird flu, with about 50 greater crested terns killed by the disease on an island off the coast of South Australia.<\/p>\n
Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said that while it could not stop the spread of outbreak as it worsened, the programme would target “priority species” most vulnerable to bird flu.<\/p>\n
The risk to humans remained low, Collins said, and there was no evidence that the disease had impacted the poultry or agriculture sectors.<\/p>\n
She said while little could be done to stop the spread among wild birds and across the country, “we can take action to protect the species most at risk”.<\/p>\n
“The first vaccines are expected to roll out in coming days and weeks based on an agreed national approach to the targeted vaccination of priority native bird species,” she said.<\/p>\n
“Australians should expect to see more spread and larger numbers, particularly of dead birds and mass mortalities around the country from the H5 bird flu.” <\/p>\n
Environment Minister Murray Watt said birds would each need two doses and that the outbreak was a “serious event”.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, the government released a list assessing the risk level of bird flu for more than 2,000 of the country’s unique native birds and mammals, based on their vulnerability and susceptibility. <\/p>\n
A handful of species were identified as facing possible extinction while hundreds of others may suffer a “severe reduction” in populations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n