By Michelle Ndaga
Australia has approved the world’s first vaccine designed to protect koalas against chlamydia, a disease that has devastated populations of the iconic marsupial.
The single-dose vaccine, developed by researchers at the University of the Sunshine Coast, was cleared for national use by Australia’s veterinary medicines regulator after more than a decade of trials.
It will be rolled out in wildlife hospitals, veterinary clinics, and field operations across the country.
Chlamydia affects up to 70 percent of koalas in parts of Queensland and New South Wales, causing blindness, infertility, and in severe cases, death.
Experts estimate the infection contributes to nearly half of koala fatalities, worsening the species’ decline already driven by habitat loss, bushfires, and climate change.
Field trials have shown the vaccine can significantly reduce infection rates, slow disease progression, and even reverse symptoms in some cases. Researchers say it could cut mortality by more than 60 percent among breeding-age koalas.
Conservationists hailed the approval as a breakthrough in efforts to save the species, which is officially listed as endangered in several regions. However, they warned that logistical challenges remain, given the difficulty of locating and treating wild populations spread across vast territories.
The Australian government has pledged A$76 million (about US$50 million) for koala conservation programs, with scientists urging swift deployment of the vaccine to prevent further population collapse.
Sources: Reuters; ABC News Australia; New Atlas
