ABOVE: Authorities confirmed bird flu had been detected at a Victorian egg farm.
More than 400,000 birds have been euthanised following detection of avian influenza at a Victorian egg farm.
On May 22, 2024, Agriculture Victoria confirmed a detection of high pathogenicity avian influenza H7N3 in poultry on a caged, barn and free-range production egg farm in Meredith, Victoria.
Testing at the CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness laboratory has confirmed the Meredith incident is caused by an H7N3 strain, not the H5 strain of avian influenza that is currently causing concern globally.
On May 23, 2024, a second Victorian poultry farm in the Terang region was confirmed to have avian influenza, following investigation by Agriculture Victoria as part of their tracing activities for the first property.
This property is approximately 110km from Meredith.
Restricted areas have been established around both infected premises and broader control areas are also in place.
These include:
- A restricted area covering a 5km radius around the Meredith farm with a broader control area buffer zone covering an area of 20km
- A restricted area covering a 1.5km radius around the Terang farm with a broader control area buffer zone covering an area of 15km.
Movement controls are in place, restricting the movement of poultry, poultry products, equipment and vehicles onto and off the two infected premises, while other premises with susceptible species within the restricted and control areas also have movement controls.
Both farms have been quarantined and field teams have been deployed to the areas to support the impacted businesses and broader industry by implementing movement controls and undertaking activities to contain and eradicate the virus.
Victorian chief veterinary officer Dr Graeme Cooke said avian influenza was present in Australian wild birds and “from time to time spilled over into the domestic poultry population.”
“We are putting in place all the requirements to prevent it spreading any further and removing the chance of any onwards spread,” Dr Cooke said.
“This area does have a high-density of poultry businesses, both egg laying and meat.
“Poultry farmers, backyard flock and bird owners are urged to report any cases of unexplained bird deaths to the 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888, or to your local vet.”
There is no connection between the detection of avian influenza in Victorian poultry and the recent detection of HPAI H5N1 avian influenza in a person who recently returned from travel overseas where the HPAI H5N1 strain is prevalent.
The Victorian Government and affected livestock industries are working together to manage this outbreak with the aim of containing and eradicating the disease as quickly as possible.
Updates and more information on the situation can be found on the Agriculture Victoria and outbreak.gov.au websites.
Signs of HPAI may include:
- Coughing, sneezing, rattling sound in the lungs
- Depression
- Decrease in egg production
- Swelling of head, eyelids, comb, wattles
- Diarrhoea
- Difficulty breathing
- Sudden death.
The clinical signs of AI virus infection are variable and influenced by the virulence of the virus, the species infected, the age of the infected individual, concurrent infection with other disease-causing agents, acquired immunity and environmental factors such as temperature.
Pathogenicity in poultry can vary during an outbreak.
Some birds may remain sub-clinically infected.
In severe forms, the disease appears suddenly and birds can die within 24 hours, sometimes without showing signs of the disease.
In many cases, an increase in flock mortality is the first indicator of infection with HPAI.
Ducks tend to predominantly display neurological signs, with decreased activity and lethargy as a common finding.
Of the cases in cattle in the US, they showed clinical signs including decreased lactation, reduced appetite, lethargy, fever and dehydration.
Clinical signs alone are suggestive but not confirmatory.
The possibility of HPAI must be investigated by laboratory testing.
HPAI is nationally notifiable.
Attention egg exporters
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has reviewed all health certification for poultry meat and meat products, eggs, egg products and inedible products and placed a temporary suspension on certification for affected products effective from Friday May 24, 2024.
Affected certification is indicated at agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/export/controlled-goods/eggs/egg-notices/2024-08 Attachment 1 and will be updated as changes occur.
Exporters should note that product recently exported on affected health certificates that have not arrived at the port of entry and cleared customs are at commercial risk.
Exporters should work with their importer to ensure importing country requirements continue to be met to manage commercial risk.
To assist with information management, exporters and establishments are requested to direct all enquires to the department about the effect of this HPAI incident on exports through their relevant peak industry body, where possible.
Exporters with detained consignments that require departmental assistance are requested to email details of the consignment, including the health certificate or RFP number to exportstandards@aff.gov.au
Exporters should be aware that other trading partners may impose bans on avian and other products sourced from the affected region, the state of Victoria or Australia despite, or in addition to current health certificate requirements.
As was the case with previous AI incidents, DAFF will take all possible action to minimise the effects of this disease incident on trade and will publish regular updates to keep industry informed of further developments.
Livestock producers are reminded to report any sick or dead birds as a priority to the 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.