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#19,230
Although Australia's confirmed H5N1 count remains at 5 birds - with the furthest east very near Adelaide, in South Australia - New Zealand is watching these developments with understandable concern.
While lying some 1,600 miles east of Australia, avian flu has been carried across much larger expanses of open water. Two years ago H5N1 arrived in Hawaii, one of the most isolated (by distance) population centers in the world.
Today New Zealand's Department of Conservation announced an ambitious plan to begin vaccinating a limited number of rare, `at risk' bird populations against H5N1. This plan was telegraphed last summer by that agency in `DOC’s bird flu vaccine trial a success', which reported:
`An internationally significant research trial carried out by DOC shows vaccination can safely be used to protect some of our most threatened birds from virulent bird flu, should it arrive here.'
First the DOC statement, after which I'll have a bit more.
DOC to vaccinate ‘at risk’ birds against bird flu
DOC is set to begin vaccinating some of New Zealand’s most threatened bird species to protect them against the highly virulent strain of H5N1 bird flu, in case it arrives here.
Date: 02 July 2026
H5N1 has been spreading around the world and has caused large die-offs in wild birds, seals and sea lions, as well as farmed poultry.
This bird flu strain is not in New Zealand but has recently been detected in migratory seabirds in Australia, which is a trigger to start vaccinating some of our most critically endangered birds as a safeguard.
DOC is working with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), the Ministry of Health and Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora as part of a One Health approach to prepare for the possible arrival of H5N1 in New Zealand.
Last year DOC completed a world-first research trial on five native bird species that showed vaccination is safe and effective in these birds and will help protect them from bird flu.
Vaccination will begin with these five birds – kākāpō, takahē, tchūriwat’/tūturuatu/shore plover, kakī/black stilt and kākāriki karaka/orange-fronted parakeet.
About 300 core breeding birds from the five species will be vaccinated. These birds are in captivity or, in the case of kākāpō and takahē, on offshore islands.
DOC Senior Science Advisor and wildlife vet, Dr Kate McInnes, says these species were chosen because they have small populations that could be at risk and are reliant on intensive conservation efforts for their ongoing survival.
“We’re in a unique position to be able to vaccinate some of our most vulnerable birds as a precaution before H5N1 bird flu potentially arrives here.
“We’ve seen the devastating impacts of this virus on wildlife in other parts of the world, and we want to reduce the risk to our precious native birds where we can.
“It won’t be possible to vaccinate all endangered birds if bird flu arrives, but we can focus on those species where the full two doses of the vaccine can be safely given to achieve protection.”
Kate McInnes says over the past four years DOC has been researching and drawing on overseas evidence and experience to develop a vaccination plan for the New Zealand situation.
A team of DOC vets and specially trained staff will administer the vaccine, supported by species rangers and facilities staff. The work will start this month to avoid the breeding season and give birds time to develop full immunity before spring.
MPI has approved the vaccination plan for the five species and the release of the avian influenza vaccine for the programme to begin. The vaccine contains dead virus and cannot cause bird flu infection.
The vaccination programme is part of DOC’s broader plans to mitigate risks to threatened wildlife and public conservation land should H5N1 bird flu arrive in New Zealand. DOC has worked closely with iwi, species recovery groups, wildlife facilities and conservation groups to get their input into its bird flu response plans.
Early detection of H5N1, if it arrives here, will be crucial. We are asking everyone to be alert when outdoors.
People who spend time outdoors – including tramping, duck hunting and bird watching – can form good habits now that will help protect wildlife if bird flu arrives here. Keep your distance from sick or dead wildlife, keep your gear clean, and know when to report.
Please report groups of three or more sick or dead birds, marine mammals or other wildlife to the MPI exotic pest and disease hotline: 0800 80 99 66.
Do not touch, handle or collect dead or dying birds to avoid spread of the virus and protect yourself.
Regular readers will recall that three years ago the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service issued a statement announcing that HPAI Was Confirmed As Cause Of Death For 3 California Condors found in Northern Arizona.
Ten days later that number had risen to 20.
Details on this program can be found at EID Journal: Safety and Immunogenicity of Poultry Vaccine for Protecting Critically Endangered Avian Species against HPAI Virus, United States.
While numbers are impossible to quantify, hundreds of millions of wild and captive birds have died, and hundreds of thousands - perhaps millions - of wild mammals have succumbed to the virus.
Despite heavy losses, most of these species will survive their encounter with HPAI H5, but for some rare, endangered populations, H5N1 could be an extinction level event.
Hopefully, programs like these will limit those risks.
