June 24, 2024

 

Avian influenza bird deaths spark declaration of biosecurity emergency in New South Wales, Australia

 

A biosecurity emergency has been declared in New South Wales, Australia, after avian influenza killed 8,000 birds and another 240,000 were euthanised on a poultry egg farm in Sydney's north.

 

The CSIRO national research laboratory confirmed avian influenza H7N8, or bird flu, was detected in a mixed barnyard and free-range poultry farm in the Hawkesbury on June 20. The strain found at the farm is believed to have come from wild birds.

 

NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriaty confirmed the virus had killed thousands of birds in the past 48 hours, which saw the NSW government enact its emergency biosecurity incident plan.

 

Moriarty said a funding agreement had also been activated with the Commonwealth, egg industry and other Australian states to compensate producers that were directly impacted.

 

Chicken industry farms surrounding the property where the outbreak occurred have been locked down, and a control order has been issued to stop the movement of machinery, materials, animals and transport within 2km of the affected farm.

 

The lockdown order covers three large commercial poultry farms with up to 355,000 birds that will be monitored for any signs of the virus.

 

"There will be no movement of eggs or birds or machinery out of the zone during the control order," Moriarty said.

 

The NSW chief veterinary Officer, who is leading the incident response, also met with key industry organisations to discuss the next steps.

 

"NSW consumers should not be concerned about eggs and poultry products from the supermarkets, because this detection does not pose a risk to consumer health and the products are safe to consume," Moriarty said. "As always, people should handle and cook using the standard procedures."

- news.com.au