Victoria launches first large-scale wild bird vaccination against H5 avian influenza

Victoria has initiated a groundbreaking vaccination programme for wild little penguins against H5 bird flu, marking the first mass immunisation effort for wild birds globally amid concerns over the virus’s spread.

Wildlife authorities in Victoria have begun vaccinating little penguins against H5 avian influenza, in what officials describe as the first mass immunisation campaign of its kind for wild birds.

According to Phillip Island Nature Parks, trained staff are carrying out health checks, microchipping and vaccination at colonies on Phillip Island and in St Kilda during August and September, with the aim of protecting up to 5,000 birds at the Penguin Parade and as many as 800 in Melbourne’s bayside suburbs. The programme comes after Agriculture Victoria confirmed on 15 August that a dead little penguin from Phillip Island had tested positive for H5 bird flu, the first confirmed case in the species in Australia.

James Todd, Victoria’s chief biodiversity officer, said the effort was unprecedented because no other country had attempted such a large-scale vaccination of wild wildlife. He added that the logistics were formidable, not least because the birds require two doses, ideally three to four weeks apart, although authorities are considering shortening that interval because of the urgency.

Officials say the penguins’ strong site fidelity, and their familiarity with researchers in the tourist-heavy colonies, make the operation possible. The work is part of a broader containment strategy as the virus continues to move through wild bird populations across the state.