Australia will roll out bird flu vaccines in the "coming days and weeks" with native species and birds in captivity first in line for protection from the deadly disease.

On Tuesday, the government said that it had AU$2m ($1.4m, £1m) worth of vaccinations for the H5N1 strain - about 1,500 vials - with states and territories to manage the rollout.

Australia reported its first case of the highly contagious strain in June, making it the last continent to be impacted. Since then, more than 230 cases have been confirmed.

Last week, it saw its first mass mortality from bird flu, with about 50 greater crested terns killed by the disease on an island off the coast of South Australia.

Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said that while it could not stop the spread of outbreak as it worsened, the programme would target "priority species" most vulnerable to bird flu.

The risk to humans remained low, Collins said, and there was no evidence that the disease had impacted the poultry or agriculture sectors.

She said while little could be done to stop the spread among wild birds and across the country, "we can take action to protect the species most at risk".

"The first vaccines are expected to roll out in coming days and weeks based on an agreed national approach to the targeted vaccination of priority native bird species," she said.

“Australians should expect to see more spread and larger numbers, particularly of dead birds and mass mortalities around the country from the H5 bird flu.”

Environment Minister Murray Watt said birds would each need two doses and that the outbreak was a "serious event".

Earlier this month, the government released a list assessing the risk level of bird flu for more than 2,000 of the country's unique native birds and mammals, based on their vulnerability and susceptibility.

A handful of species were identified as facing possible extinction while hundreds of others may suffer a "severe reduction" in populations.

Source: BBC

– Agencies