June 19, 2024

Avian influenza spreads to seventh poultry farm in Victoria, Australia

The highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected at a seventh poultry farm near Melbourne, as announced by the government of Australia's Victoria state, Reuters reported.

Of the affected farms, six are confirmed to have the H7N3 flu strain, while the seventh has the H7N9 strain. Neither of these strains is the H5N1 type of avian flu, which has globally infected billions of wild and farmed animals and raised concerns about human transmission.

Victoria's agriculture department issued a statement confirming that restricted and control areas have been established around all infected premises. The affected properties include six egg farms and one duck farm.

In efforts to contain the virus, approximately one million chickens, accounting for about 5% of Australia's egg-laying flock, have been or will be culled at the infected farms. Despite these measures, there has been no shortage of eggs, although some retailers have implemented purchase limits.

Prior to these recent cases, the first of which was reported last month, Australia had experienced nine outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza since 1976. Each outbreak was successfully contained and eradicated.

Authorities assure the public that duck and chicken eggs, as well as meat, remain safe for consumption.

-      Reuters