Australia Allocates $113 Million to Combat Bird Flu

Australia has allocated A$113 million to strengthen biosecurity measures against the highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu virus, as authorities seek to protect the country's poultry and livestock industries.

Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said the government is continuing to implement its national response plan in coordination with state and territorial authorities.

Australia has not recorded any H5N1 infections in commercial poultry farms so far, but surveillance, monitoring and preparedness efforts have been intensified nationwide to prevent the virus from spreading.

The funding comes as countries around the world step up measures to contain avian influenza, which has affected wild birds, poultry and several mammal species across multiple continents