Quarantine Imposed on Victorian Poultry Farm After Bird Flu Detection
A poultry farm in Euroa, Victoria has been quarantined after a case of the H7N8 bird flu strain was confirmed. A 5km exclusion zone and control area have been established to prevent the virus's spread.
A 5km exclusion zone has been placed around a poultry farm in north-east Victoria following the detection of a new case of bird flu. Agriculture Victoria announced on Saturday that testing by CSIRO confirmed the presence of the high pathogenicity H7N8 strain of avian influenza at the Euroa property.
This case is distinct from the avian influenza strains that affected over a dozen poultry farms across Victoria, New South Wales, and ACT in 2024. Additionally, the ongoing H5N1 strain is impacting the US and various regions globally.
The situation arises just after Agriculture Victoria lifted quarantine restrictions on the last Victorian property affected by H7 avian influenza last month. Cameron Bell, Victoria's acting chief veterinarian, noted that the poultry business contacted authorities immediately upon suspecting disease in its flock.
"Avian influenza is commonly spread by wild birds, and unfortunately, despite the business having excellent biosecurity controls in place, poultry have been infected," he stated.
The affected business is currently collaborating closely with Agriculture Victoria officers stationed at the property to manage the outbreak. Authorities have implemented a 5-kilometre exclusion zone around the chicken farm and established a control area for the eastern part of Strathbogie Shire.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan remarked on the extensive efforts made by Agriculture Victoria last year to contain a similar outbreak, emphasising that authorities would diligently work to prevent the spread of this latest strain. "This is a disease that is very easily spread by birds, and this is why strong action will be taken to set up quarantine arrangements around this latest outbreak," she said.
In light of the outbreak, authorities have confirmed it remains safe to consume eggs and poultry products from supermarkets. Poultry farmers and bird owners are encouraged to report any instances of unexplained bird deaths. Bird owners are also advised to maintain cleanliness with footwear, wash hands before and after handling birds or eggs, and quarantine new birds prior to integrating them with their existing flocks.
