Inside the Bird-Flu Vaccine Trial for Monk Seals
The New York Times • • health
Key Points:
- Two wild Hawaiian monk seals, an endangered species, have been vaccinated against bird flu (H5N1) for the first time as part of a new conservation effort to protect them from the virus affecting marine mammals globally.
- The vaccination program follows a successful trial in northern elephant seals, where the vaccine was found safe and effective in generating antibodies.
- The inclusion of monk seals was prompted by the recent detection of the virus in Hawaii, which had previously been protected due to its remote location.
- Hawaiian monk seals face multiple threats such as habitat loss, fishing gear entanglement, and limited food, with only about 1,600 individuals remaining despite recent population recovery efforts.
- The Marine Mammal Center, in collaboration with
