Victoria Aims to Vaccinate Over 5,000 Little Penguins Amid H5 Bird Flu Outbreak
By Bianca Mulheron – Digital Reporter
More than 5,000 little penguins are expected to be vaccinated against H5 bird flu from next week as Victoria moves to protect the world’s smallest penguin species.
Agriculture Minister Julie Collins announced on Tuesday almost $2 million had been invested in vaccines and trials, with 1,500 vials secured to combat the outbreak.
More than 5,000 little penguins in Victoria are set to receive H5 bird flu vaccines from next week.
The vaccinations have now arrived at Phillip Island and are expected to be administered from early next week, pending final regulatory approval.
Little penguins, otherwise known as fairy penguins, at Phillip Island and St Kilda will receive two doses, which will require wildlife workers to catch each bird twice.
The program is possible because little penguins regularly return to the same colonies and burrows, allowing authorities to vaccinate and monitor them over time.
It comes as H5 bird flu continues to spread among wild birds in Victoria, with cases detected at Phillip Island, Mildura, Warrnambool, Hamilton, St Andrews Beach and Hawkesdale.
The virus has already made a deadly impact in South Australia, where dozens of wild birds have died amid the outbreak.
No cases have been detected in little penguins in Victoria or elsewhere in Australia.
Little Penguins are the world’s smallest penguin, with Victoria moving to protect its little penguin colonies as the H5 bird flu has been detected in wild birds across the state.
Little penguins will receive two vaccine doses as authorities work to shield vulnerable wildlife from the deadly H5 strain.
Victorian Environment Minister Jaclyn Symes said vaccination would help protect vulnerable wildlife but would not stop the virus circulating in the wild.
