U.S. Researchers Develop Bird Flu Vaccine for Seals Amid Global Outbreaks
Researchers in the United States have developed and tested a vaccine for bird flu (H5N1) in seals, initially developed for dairy cattle. This vaccine has shown promising results, being well-tolerated by northern elephant seals and producing a measurable antibody response. The trials were extended to endangered Hawaiian monk seals in rehabilitation, further demonstrating its potential. This development comes as Australia faces its first bird flu death in a mainland mammal, a long-nosed fur seal, highlighting the global spread and impact of the H5N1 virus on marine mammal populations. While this U.S. research is a significant step, it does not yet constitute a vaccination program for free-ranging seals, and the vaccine lacks regulatory approval for use in Australia. 
