December 3, 2024

 

About 40,000 chickens in South Island, New Zealand, to be culled following bird flu discovery at egg farm

 

 

As many as 40,000 chickens will be culled after an avian influenza outbreak was detected at an egg farm in Moeraki, South Island, New Zealand, the first such case ever reported in the country.

 

Biosecurity New Zealand has placed strict movement controls on the commercial rural Otago egg farm at Hillgrove near Moeraki, after testing confirmed a high pathogenic strain of avian influenza in chickens that has likely developed from interactions with local waterfowl and wild birds.

 

Minister for Primary Industries Andrew Hoggard said the shed where the virus was detected held about 40,000 chickens, which was to be "depopulated" on December 3. That one shed represents about 20% of the farm's total chicken population.

 

Deputy director-general Stuart Anderson said in a statement that tests from the Mainland Poultry-managed farm had identified a high pathogenic H7N6 subtype of avian influenza after illness was noted among the chickens.

 

"While it is not the H5N1 type circulating among wildlife around the world that has caused concern, we are taking the find seriously," Anderson said. "Our testing shows it is unrelated to a H7 strain that was identified in Australia earlier this year and we believe this case may have happened as part of a spillover event, where laying hens who were foraging outside of the shed were exposed to a low pathogenic virus from wild waterfowl."

 

Anderson added that low pathogenic viruses were present in wild birds here, especially waterfowl like ducks, geese, and swans and the virus can mutate on interaction with chickens.

 

"It is important to note that the strain found on this farm is not a wildlife adapted strain like HN51, so we believe it is unlikely to be transmitted to mammals," he noted.

 

There had been no reports of other ill or dead birds on other poultry farms and there are no human health or food safety concerns and it was safe to consume thoroughly cooked egg and poultry products, Anderson said.

 

However, six other poultry farms are considered to be at risk, including those also managed by Mainland at Waikouaiti, Wainakarua and Glenpark. Its Waikouaiti site is among the largest poultry farms in New Zealand.

 

A spokeswoman for Mainland Poultry said it was testing at all of its farms and it would have a better idea of the situation by December 3.

 

Anderson said quick action had been taken in co-operation with Mainland Poultry and a restricted place notice issued.

 

"Test results late last night confirmed the strain, but we already had restrictions in place and expert biosecurity staff on site, with more arriving (on December 2)," he added.  "Mainland Poultry took the right steps by reporting ill birds in one shed on the property and locking that building down as testing continued.

 

"We will move quickly with Mainland Poultry to depopulate birds on the remote property and we've placed a 10-kilometre buffer zone around it alongside the restrictions preventing movement of animals, equipment, and feed."

 

Mainland Poultry chief executive John McKay said in a statement it was committed to taking quick action.

 

"We have been preparing for an event like this for some time knowing that low pathogenic avian influenza is already present in New Zealand wild birds," McKay said. "Fortunately, this is not the H5N1 type that has caused concern for wildlife in other parts of the world. International experience with avian influenza has shown us this particular strain (H7N6) can be eradicated quickly and successfully."

 

"We have put a lot of effort in with the poultry and egg sector, the Department of Conservation, and Ministry of Health to prepare for H5N1 and that puts us in a good position to deal with the less virulent H7N6 strain found on this farm," Anderson said.

 - APL