November 21, 2012

An egg farm near Maitland, New South Wales has destroyed thousands of chickens following a bird flu outbreak.

A Department of Primary Industries spokesman said that 50,000 birds from the property were destroyed following the outbreak late last week.

Observation remains on-going, the spokesman said, with that likely to continue until officers were satisfied the incident was contained.

A department statement on Friday (Nov 16) said there was no evidence to suggest that the infection had spread.

The Newcastle Herald previously reported testing showed the virus was not the pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian influenza.

New South Wales Food Authority chief scientist Lisa Szabo confirmed there were no safety issues with eggs and poultry.