Koala Chlamydia Vaccine Approved

On September 10, 2025, Australia approved a single-dose vaccine to protect koalas against chlamydia, a deadly disease threatening the endangered marsupial.

This first-of-its-kind vaccine will be used in wildlife hospitals, clinics, and field settings to curb the infection devastating koala populations.

Vaccine’s Role in Fighting Chlamydia

A Lifeline for Koalas

• Chlamydia, a sexually transmitted infection, causes up to 50% of koala deaths in the wild, leading to infertility and blindness.
• In Queensland and New South Wales, infection rates reach 50% to 70% in some populations.
• Professor Peter Timms from the University of the Sunshine Coast, whose team developed the vaccine after over a decade of research, said it could reduce symptoms during breeding age and cut wild koala deaths by at least 65%.

How the Vaccine Works

• Reduces infection rates.
• Prevents progression to severe disease.
• In some cases, reverses existing symptoms.

Timms noted, “Some individual colonies are edging closer to local extinction every day,” highlighting the urgency of the vaccine’s rollout.

Koala Population Crisis

Declining Numbers

• Koala numbers have halved in the past 20 years due to chlamydia, habitat loss, climate change, and bushfires.
• In 2022, koalas were listed as endangered in Queensland, New South Wales, and the Australian Capital Territory.
• Australia’s national koala monitoring program estimates 95,000 to 238,000 koalas remain in these regions, with 129,000 to 286,000 in Victoria and South Australia.

Government Support

• The Australian government has pledged A$76 million ($50 million USD) to koala conservation efforts.
• ($1 USD = 1.5152 AUD as of September 10, 2025.)

Why This Matters

The chlamydia vaccine offers hope for saving Australia’s iconic koala, preventing local extinctions, and supporting population recovery.

By reducing infection rates and mortality, this breakthrough could stabilize koala colonies while broader conservation efforts address habitat and climate challenges.

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