Wildlife Health Australia has welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement this week that it will be allocating $7 million to WHA as part of its $95 million package to support H5N1 preparedness and response.
The $7 million was earmarked in the October 14 announcement to “improve early detection and reporting capacity” of H5N1 by enhancing WHA’s surveillance activities and supporting global and national One Health outcomes.
WHA administers Australia’s national wildlife health systems and networks, working with partners such as zoos, vets and wildlife rehabilitators around Australia to identify emerging diseases in wildlife and provide data to improve management of disease outbreaks.
This includes the National Avian Influenza in Wild Birds Surveillance Program (NAIWB), which is funded by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and significant in-kind support from partner organisations.
Data collation is coordinated by WHA from wild birds sampled from around Australia by program partners including biosecurity agencies, universities and DAFF’s Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy. Confirmatory testing occurs at CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP).
This contributes to WHA’s wider work to provide vital wildlife health information and advice to support effective wildlife strategies for prevention, preparedness and response to wildlife health threats in Australia and beyond.
Quotes from Rupert Woods, Chief Executive Officer, Wildlife Health Australia:
“We are pleased the response to the current H5N1 avian influenza threat has been a true ‘One Health’ approach from the Federal Government, with the $95 million package allocated across environment, health and agriculture.
“This approach recognises how human, animal and environmental health is linked, and is vital to protect human health, agriculture, the environment and biodiversity in Australia.
“We welcome the $7 million earmarked for WHA to support the H5N1 preparedness and response activities for wildlife, including surveillance.
“Surveillance will be paramount in the identification of H5N1, if and when it arrives on Australian shores.
“WHA’s work is critical in helping to protect Australia’s wildlife and contribute to national disease preparedness. We look forward to further details from Federal Government about the funding allocation.”
Photo Courtesy Celia Dickason