澳大利亚联邦政府宣布为圈养的本地鸟类推出H5禽流感疫苗接种计划，以保护濒危物种[1]。农业部长朱莉·柯林斯表示疫苗接种将在未来数周内开始，重点保护动物园和其他设施中的圈养物种[1]。柯林斯指出："我们无法阻止H5禽流感在野生鸟类中传播，但我们可以采取行动保护风险最高的物种"[1]。
此举针对的濒危物种包括橙腹鹦鹉、摄政吸蜜鹦鹉和西澳黑鹦鹉[1]。根据政府计划，疫苗需要两次接种才能有效[1]。该试验已持续18个月[1]。南澳大利亚州和维多利亚州上周出现首次大规模死亡[1]，其中南澳大利亚州报告33例新疑似病例，包括一只游隼[1]。政府已将H5病例报告从每日更新改为关注重大事件[1]，并警告公众预期将看到更多疫情扩散和大规模鸟类死亡[1]。
The Australian federal government has announced a vaccination program targeting captive native birds against H5 bird flu, with the rollout set to begin within the coming weeks [1]. Agriculture Minister Julie Collins stated that while the government cannot prevent H5 bird flu from spreading among wild birds, it can take action to protect the species at highest risk [1]. The initiative will focus on endangered birds housed in zoos and other facilities, including orange-bellied parrots, regent honeyeaters, and western black cockatoos [1].
The vaccination effort follows trials conducted over the past 18 months and will require two doses to be effective [1]. Authorities have warned the public to prepare for continued disease spread and additional mass bird mortality events [1]. South Australia and Victoria experienced their first major die-offs last week, with South Australia reporting 33 new suspected cases including a peregrine falcon [1]. The government has shifted its H5 case reporting from daily updates to monitoring only significant events [1].