Bird flu vaccinations of penguins begin in Australia

Australia has launched a vaccination program for Little Penguins in Victoria, marking a significant effort to combat the spread of bird flu. The initiative follows the confirmation of the H5 influenza virus in the species, with the first death reported on Phillip Island, a popular tourist destination.

James Todd, Victoria's chief biodiversity officer, confirmed the positive detection of the virus on August 15. This case comes about two months after Australia's initial detection of the virus in Western Australia. The vaccination rollout is set to cover more than 5,000 penguins, with each bird receiving two doses to ensure protection against the H5 influenza.

Penguin watching is a major draw for tourists visiting Phillip Island. Todd noted that the current timing is ideal for the vaccination program, as most penguins are at sea feeding, with only a few hundred returning to their nests. He anticipates an increase in penguin numbers over the coming months, making the vaccination effort timely.

The bird flu situation is escalating rapidly across Australia, with the virus now present in every state. This has raised concerns for the nation's multi-billion dollar tourism sector, which generated over A$200 billion in the financial year ending June 2025. While the poultry industry has not yet reported any cases, state governments are proactively vaccinating vulnerable wildlife species to mitigate potential impacts.

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At this time of year, most birds are actually out at sea, still feeding, so there’s only a few hundred that are really returning to the nests. We’ll start to see that increase over the coming months, so now’s the perfect time to be starting a vaccination programme.