Native birds in captivity to be vaccinated against H5 bird flu as Australia prepares for more mass mortalities

Endangered birds held in captivity, including the orange-bellied parrot, will be vaccinated against H5N1. Photograph: Andrew Haysom/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Vaccinations against H5 bird flu will be rolled out for Australian native bird species in captivity as the deadly virus continues to spread across the country.

The federal agriculture minister, Julie Collins, said on Tuesday that target native species in captivity would be prioritised with the first vaccinations to commence “in the coming days and weeks”.