World-first koala chlamydia vaccine is approved for use

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Australia has approved a vaccine to protect koalas from chlamydia, a disease that is responsible for up to 50% of their deaths in the wild. Developed by Peter Timms and his team at the University of the Sunshine Coast, the single-dose vaccine aims to reduce symptoms and mortality rates by at least 65%. Timms said: "[The vaccine] offers three levels of protection - reducing infection, preventing progression to clinical disease and, in some cases, reversing existing symptoms." The Australian government has allocated A$76m to koala conservation efforts as their populations continue to decline.


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