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Hawaiian Monk Seals Vaccinated Against Bird Flu
1 Dec
Summary
- Endangered Hawaiian monk seals received bird flu vaccines.
- Study began with northern elephant seals, showing vaccine safety.
- Virus returned to Hawaii, prompting urgent action for monk seals.
In a groundbreaking conservation effort, two wild Hawaiian monk seals, an endangered species, have become the first of their kind to receive vaccines against the H5N1 bird flu virus. This initiative represents an expansion of a promising study that initially tested the vaccine's safety and efficacy on northern elephant seals, with encouraging results indicating antibody development.
The swift inclusion of monk seals was prompted by the virus's resurgence in Hawaii, a region previously insulated due to its remoteness. Experts emphasize the significant threat H5N1 poses to the fragile recovery of the Hawaiian monk seal population, which numbers only 1,600 individuals after near extinction.
The Marine Mammal Center is overseeing the study, administering the vaccine to two young male seals at their Hawaiian hospital before their eventual release back into the wild. This pioneering vaccination program offers a vital tool to prevent widespread mortality events and safeguard the future of this vulnerable species.
