$95 million injection to fight the threat of avian influenza

The Australian government has announced an additional $95 million package to prepare for the arrival of the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian influenza, which is causing the deaths of poultry, wild birds and mammal species worldwide.

The funding includes extra vaccines for humans.

Australia is currently the only continent free from the H5N1 strain, known as clade 2.3.4.4 b. The disease poses significant risks for wildlife, the agricultural industry, and the national economy, and could arrive on Australia’s shores any day.

The H5N1 strain is not the same as the H7 strains which caused outbreaks in several poultry farms in Victoria, New South Wales, and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) earlier this year.

“While Australia remains free from HPAI H5N1, the awful reality of this disease is that – like the rest of the world – we will not be able to prevent its arrival,” says Minister for Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek MP.

“I am particularly concerned about the potential impact on species already at risk of extinction and not well placed to cope with significant mortalities. This includes marine mammals such as the endangered Australian sea lion, and sea birds like the Christmas Island frigatebird which has only one breeding site.”

Of the funds  $35.9 million is earmarked for protections for threatened species.

The funding, which is in addition to the $6.9 million announced in July, also includes:

• $15 million to increase national biosecurity response capability and improve surveillance.
• $5 million to boost biosecurity and scientific capability, including vaccines for use in some captive threatened bird species.
• $7 million to enhance wild bird surveillance activities through Wildlife Health Australia

Director of the Biodiversity Council, James Trezise, says the investment is a “massive boost” for preparing for the impacts of bird flu on our wildlife populations.

“Minister Collins and Minister Plibersek need to be commended for listening to the scientific experts and ramping up resourcing to tackle this major biosecurity risk.

“We also need to accept this is only a downpayment on a full-scale response should H5N1 make it to our shores.”

The funding also includes up to $10 million for nationally coordinated communications to inform and prepare the Australian community and $22.1 million to strengthen public health preparedness.

Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler MP, says that although human infections with avian influenza viruses are rare, and the current risk to the Australian population remains very low, there is no room for complacency.

“The Australian Government’s $22.1 million investment will increase the number of pandemic flu vaccines we have in storage,” he says.

“The interim Australian Centre for Disease Control is leading this work – and is very focused on ensuring we are as prepared as possible for any potential case of H5N1 avian influenza.”