Australia’s veterinary medicine regulator has approved a vaccine to protect koalas from chlamydia, one of the leading causes of koala infertility and death. Researchers found the single-dose vaccine reduced mortality in wild koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) by at least 65%. In some cases, it even reversed existing symptoms in koalas that were already infected. “Koalas are truly iconic for all of us and sadly their numbers are decreasing,” Peter Timms, who led the development of the vaccine as deputy director of bioinnovation at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia, said in a video posted by the university. “This has been a major achievement … after more than 15 years of work and a lot of people contributing to this, we’ve reached this key point.” Most wild koalas live in eastern
Australia approves the world’s first chlamydia vaccine for koalas

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