H5N1 avian influenza spreads across Australia and New Zealand

The H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza strain has reached Australia and New Zealand, prompting significant biosecurity and conservation responses across Oceania.

In New Zealand, the government has launched a $1.5 million Poultry Biosecurity Grant to help small-to-medium producers strengthen defenses. New regulations, expected by the end of 2026, will require poultry operations with more than 100 birds to implement formal biosecurity plans. Conservation efforts are also underway, including vaccination programs for rare species such as the black stilt, kākāpō, and takahē.

In Australia, the virus has been detected in wild seabirds across five states. While the government has acknowledged that eradication is unlikely, efforts are focused on protecting the agricultural sector and vulnerable native species. A major vaccination program is targeting over 5,000 little penguins in Victoria, including colonies at Phillip Island and St Kilda. While Australia has purchased an inactivated H5 vaccine for pilot studies in captive birds, current national policy does not extend protection to non-avian species like sea lions and elephant seals, which remain at high risk.