Government Responds to Threat of Destructive Avian Influenza Strain

On Sunday, October 13, Australia announced it would allocate an additional A$95 million (S$83.5 million) to safeguard against the H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b bird flu strain, which has devastated bird and mammal populations globally but has not yet reached Australia.

This strain, which has been responsible for the deaths of millions of birds and mammals in Asia, Europe, and Africa since 2020, has not affected Oceania, the only region free from its impact. In response, Agriculture Minister Julie Collins emphasized the importance of protecting the country’s agriculture sector, noting that the new funding is part of a larger A$1 billion investment in biosecurity efforts.