🐦💉🚦 Da Condors Get Chance Fo’ Fly Agin: Emajensee Bird Flu Vaccine Get Green Light in California

Eh, bruddahs an sistahs! Lissen up, we get plenny kine news fo’ share today. Firs off, da federal mokes wen grant one emajensee nod fo’ use one bird flu vaccine fo’ da California condors. Dis one, straight from da U.S. Department Agriculture folks, wen drop jus’ dis past Tuesday 📅.

Why all dis kine trouble, you might t’ink? Well, gotta look da kine sitch we in. Mo’ den dozen of dese massive birds, critical kine endangered, wen recently drop dead from da virus, dat one dey call H5N1 🦠🐦. An no joke, worldwide, we talking less den 600 California condors still flying. Dese buggahs get wingspans bigga den most living room, nearly 10 feet 📏🕊️.

So dis emergency approval, da way da Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service peeps talk, it’s all about tryin’ fo’ prevent mo’ of dese birds from saying aloha ‘oe to dis world. Da vaccine wen originally come about fo’ one dif’rent kine avian flu, an’ da condors ain’t going be getting da shot jus’ yet. Gotta make sure everyt’ing pono first, yeah? 💊🔬👩‍🔬.

Now, get three federal agencies — da Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, da U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service an’ da U.S. Geological Survey — all working togedda, testing da vaccine on top black vultures, one species dat one related to da California condors 🤝🕊️🔍.

On Tuesday, dey wen give da shot to 20 of da vultures ova in North Carolina. Now, if da results come out good, da next step going be to vaccinate 25 captive condors, dey said 🐦💉👍.

Why dis all matter? Bruddah, da condors dey in high risk zone. First time dey wen spot da virus was in one California condor dat wen die back in late March. Since den, 20 more condors wen die, and four more still trying fo’ recover at da rehab places, based on what da federal guys saying 🏥🐦😢.

Da condors, seems like dey real prone to getting sick from dis virus, according to Dr. Carlos Sanchez, da main vet guy ova at da Oregon Zoo, where dey get one condor breeding program. He wen say dat once da condors get da virus, chances are real high dey going die 🥼💔💬.

During da 20th century, da California condor population wen drop way down; back in da 1980s, was less den 30 birds left. But den, thanks to captive breeding programs, da population slowly started come back 🔄🐣🎉. Now, if da virus manages to get into mo’ condor groups, could wipe out all dat progress, Dr. Sanchez wen say: “We’re talking about a potential catastrophic collapse of da conservation project.”

Dis H5N1 virus, da first time dey wen spot it was in China in 1996. Since den, dif’rent kine versions of da virus wen show up in wild birds an’ wen cause all kine outbreaks in poultry 🇨🇳🦠🐔.

But da size an’ scope of da current outbreak get da officials thinking about one mass poultry vaccination program. Da U.S.D.A. scientists wen be testing all kine potential poultry vaccines and wen say dat some results might be available dis spring 🌼🐓💉.

Looking ahead, could be we see more animal outbreaks in da coming weeks as da infected wild birds start migrate north fo’ da summer 🐦🌎⬆️.

An’ fo’ switch gears, one Punahou girl trying fo’ rep Hawaii in da national ‘Doodle for Google’ contest ✏️🎨🌺.

Dis girl, Allison Lin, one ninth-grader at Punahou School, she wen win da Hawaii’s “Doodle for Google” title, dat puts her in da national competition. Dis year’s theme is, “I am grateful for…” 🙏🙌💖.

Her artwork, “Made By My Heritage,” wen get picked out of thousands dey wen get dis year. Her doodle showing all kine tings from her Chinese heritage dat she say she really love and value 🇨🇳🎏🖼️.

Voting going be open through May 25 – an’ you know wat, your vote could be da one dat help her make da cut fo’ top five national finalists 🗳️📊🏆.

Late in May, Google going announce who da finalists – an’ one of those keiki going get their doodle on Google’s homepage fo’ one day 🖥️🎊🌈.

Da winner going score one $30,000 college scholarship and their school going get one $50,000 tech package 🏆💰💻.

So, if you like help Lin’s art get da recognition, no forget vote! Click here fo’ vote fo’ Lin’s entry. A’ole pilikia, mahalo nui loa fo’ your kokua! 🤙🏽🌺🎉

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NOW IN ENGLISH

🐦💉🚦 California Condors Get Lifeline: Emergency Bird Flu Vaccine Approved

Folks, we have a significant announcement to share today. First off, federal authorities have granted emergency authorization for a bird flu vaccine intended for California condors. This news, straight from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, was released just this past Tuesday 📅.

So why all this fuss, you might ask? Let’s examine the predicament we’re in. More than a dozen of these colossal birds, which are critically endangered, have recently succumbed to the virus known as H5N1 🦠🐦. No joke, there are less than 600 California condors worldwide. These giants boast wingspans larger than most living rooms, nearly 10 feet across 📏🕊️.

This emergency approval, as explained by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, is all about preventing further loss of these birds. The vaccine was initially created for a different strain of avian flu, and the condors won’t be receiving it immediately. But every measure is being taken to ensure everything is on the up-and-up first, right? 💊🔬👩‍🔬.

Three federal agencies — the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Geological Survey — are now joining forces to test the vaccine on black vultures, a species related to the California condors 🤝🕊️🔍.

On Tuesday, 20 of these vultures in North Carolina received the vaccine. If the results are promising, the next step will be to vaccinate 25 captive condors, they stated 🐦💉👍.

Why does this all matter? Well, condors are in a high-risk zone. The virus was first detected in a deceased California condor back in late March. Since then, 20 more condors have passed away, and four more are still trying to recover in rehabilitation centers, according to federal reports 🏥🐦😢.

Condors seem to be extremely susceptible to this virus, as explained by Dr. Carlos Sanchez, the leading veterinarian at the Oregon Zoo, which runs a condor breeding program. Once condors contract the virus, he says, the mortality rate is alarmingly high 🥼💔💬.

During the 20th century, the California condor population dropped drastically; in the 1980s, fewer than 30 birds were left. Since then, captive breeding programs have helped bolster the population. However, if the virus manages to infiltrate more condor groups, it could undo all this progress, warned Dr. Sanchez: “We’re talking about a potential catastrophic collapse of the conservation project.”

The H5N1 virus was first identified in China in 1996. Since then, different versions of the virus have appeared in wild birds and caused numerous outbreaks in poultry 🇨🇳🦠🐔.

But the size and scale of the current outbreak have led officials to consider a widespread poultry vaccination program. U.S.D.A. scientists have been testing a variety of potential poultry vaccines and have mentioned that some results could be available this spring 🌼🐓💉.

Looking ahead, we may see more animal outbreaks in the coming weeks as infected wild birds migrate north for the summer 🐦🌎⬆️.

Switching gears, a girl from Punahou is vying to represent Hawaii in the national ‘Doodle for Google’ contest ✏️🎨🌺.

Allison Lin, a ninth-grader at Punahou School, has been crowned Hawaii’s “Doodle for Google” winner, which has catapulted her into the national competition. This year’s theme is, “I am grateful for…” 🙏🙌💖.

Her artwork, “Made By My Heritage,” was selected from thousands of entries received this year. Her doodle showcases aspects of her Chinese heritage that she holds dear and values 🇨🇳🎏🖼️.

Voting will be open until May 25 – and your vote could help her become one of the five national finalists 🗳️📊🏆.

In late May, Google will announce the finalists, and one of these lucky students will have their doodle featured on Google’s homepage for a day 🖥️🎊🌈.

The winner will be awarded a $30,000 college scholarship, and their school will receive a $50,000 tech package 🏆💰💻.

If you’d like to support Lin’s creative efforts, don’t forget to vote! Click here to cast your vote for Lin’s entry. Thanks for your help and support! 🤙🏽🌺🎉