Australia has approved the world’s first vaccination to save koalas from a deadly chlamydia epidemic.
According to AsiaOne, Australia, in a groundbreaking move, approved a vaccine to protect its endangered koalas from the deadly disease chlamydia that has been severely impacting the population of the marsupial.
Scientists believe that the single-dose vaccine could be a game-changer in stopping sexually transmitted disease and saving the iconic species.
Peter Timms, professor of microbiology at the University of the Sunshine Coast, stated on Wednesday, September 10, “Some individual colonies are edging closer to local extinction every day… It (vaccine) offers three levels of protection: reducing infection, preventing progression to clinical disease and, in some cases, reversing existing symptoms.”
Researchers are hopeful that the vaccination will reduce wild koala deaths by at least 65%.
Chlamydia is a disease that can be transmitted through mating or close contact. It affects both males and females and can lead to severe health issues, including urinary tract infections, blindness, infertility, and often death. The disease is responsible for up to 50% of wild koala deaths.
Koalas were officially classified as endangered in Queensland, New South Wales, and the Australian Capital Territory in 2022.
As per the National Koala Monitoring Programme in Australia, the population in the endangered areas ranges from 95,000 to 238,000. Meanwhile, Victoria and South Australia are home to an estimated 129,000 to 286,000 koalas.
The World Wide Fund for Nature has noted that koala populations have plummeted by 50% over the past 20 years due to several reasons, including habitat loss, climate change, bushfires, and infectious diseases.