KAKAPO PARROTS - Bird flu vaccinations

Several news agencies are reporting on Paul Jansen of New Zealand's Department Of Conservation announcement that several of the island's birds could be vaccinated against the virulant bird flu H5N1 that is sweeping the globe.

New Zealand's iconic flightless birds, the kiwi and the near-extinct kakapo, will be vaccinated against bird flu if the virus is detected anywhere near this isolated South Pacific nation, a conservationist said Friday.

New Zealand has reported no cases of the deadly H5N1 bird flu strain, but native birds are likely "highly susceptible" to it, said Paul Jansen, leader of the Department of Conservation's kiwi and kakapo recovery team.

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