What funding or support, if any, is available to wildlife hospitals and rehabilitation centers to increase their capacity for triage, treatment, and diagnostic work in the event that H5 bird flu becomes widespread in wild bird populations?

Answer

Native bird hospitals, vets, and wildlife agencies are being supported by One Health agencies through the provision of guidance and advice regarding the management of their facilities and birds in their care after the arrival of H5 bird flu to New Zealand. The Department of Conservation is running weekly webinars to keep wildlife hospitals and rehabilitation centres up to date with the latest advice and information on the H5 virus. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has been contacting bird rehabilitation centres across New Zealand to offer support and to ensure they have adequate equipment and information, including provisions for appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Where centres have asked for further support, MPI is assessing this on a case-by-case basis. Additionally, MPI is supporting centres through its existing funding channels; for example, MPI funds BirdCare Aotearoa to support surveillance activities including data collection and testing of birds admitted to their facilities. Funding under this arrangement has recently been increased to reflect the higher number of birds being assessed and tested. The key advice remains that sick birds should be left in their natural habitats as this is the best approach to build population resilience and immunity.