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www.poultrynews.com.au National Poultry Newspaper, March 2025 %u2013 Page 3AS at February 25, 2025, H7 avian influenza had been confirmed at a fourth poultry property in northern Victoria near Euroa. All infected properties were within the restricted area and under quarantine.Given the close proximity to existing infected properties, the new detection was not unexpected.Diagnostic tests confirmed a high pathogenicity strain of H7N8. The tests were done at CSIRO%u2019s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness in Geelong.This is a new outbreak and not related to the 2024 outbreaks in Victoria, NSW and the ACT, which were successfully eradicated.This is not the H5N1 bird flu strain that is impacting other parts of the world.A restricted area with a radius of about 5km is in place around the infected properties. This is part of a larger control area in Strathbogie Shire, east of the Goulburn Valley Freeway. The goal is to prevent movements that could spread the virus.Townships impacted include:%u2022 Euroa%u2022 Violet Town%u2022 Longwood%u2022 Ruffy%u2022 Avenel%u2022 Strathbogie.The control and restricted areas have specific rules.Producers located within the restricted area with 50 or more birds including poultry need to follow a housing requirement.Any suspicion of an emergency animal disease should be immediately reported to the 24-hour EAD Hotline on 1800 675 888 or to your local vet.Agriculture Victoria is actively working with property owners. The first two infected properties have finished humane destruction of poultry on site. Work is under way at the third and fourth properties.Cases of humans in direct contact with animals infected with high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses are possible. However, the risk to the public is low.Movement of poultry and other birds and control measuresAll movements of bird, bird products %u2013 including eggs and manure %u2013 and poultry equipment into, within or out of the declared areas are prohibited unless under a permit. This includes collecting, processing or packaging eggs on a premises for the purpose of the eggs being moved and also applies to meat and carcases from poultry and birds, including game birds.Under movement restrictions for both the control area and restricted area, chicken meat and eggs can still be moved into, out of or within the area as long as they come from an approved supplier. This includes:%u2022 Supermarkets%u2022 Butchers%u2022 Grocery stores%u2022 Other authorised food suppliers.These products must not be fed to livestock including pigs, sheep, cattle and goats. This does not apply to dogs and cats.A permit is required for all other movements of chicken, meat and eggs in and out of a control area or restricted area.A housing requirement is now in place for the restricted area only and applies to producers with 50 or more poultry. While housing is not mandatory in the control area, or for people with fewer than 50 birds, all other movement restrictions still apply.Exemptions are in place that allow vehicles transporting livestock and other agricultural products to travel along the Hume Fwy, so long as they don%u2019t leave the Hume Fwy in the restricted or control area.Truck deliveries of poultry feed to poultry farms in the control area are exempt from the need for a permit. There is no exemption for the delivery of poultry feed to poultry farms in the restricted area.There are no restrictions on the movement of stock feed for livestock species other than poultry or birds, into, within or out of the restricted area or control area. Good biosecurity practices should be followed.Poultry showsPoultry and bird sales, shows, markets and auctions or other gatherings within the control and restricted areas are prohibited until further notice. Pioneers in future proof solutions6 REASONS TO CHOOSE INTRA HYDROCARENEXT LEVEL DRINKING WATER HYGIENE UNIQUE BLEND STRONGER THROUGH INNOVATIONUltra stabilised hydrogen peroxideSlow release effect that removes all biofilm until the end of the pipelineEliminates bacteria, viruses, yeasts and fungi For use in empty and operational sheds Non-corrosive and safe for humans, animals, materials and the environmentExtensive registrations worldwide (including EU-BPR by ECHA)Distributed by: 1300 791 009 ccdsales@ccdanimalhealth.com.auCHOOSE SMART, CHOOSE SAFETY!PT02, PT03, PT04, PT05LEARN MORERestricted and control areas. Areas shown in red are located in the restricted area. Areas shown in purple are located in the control area.Current avian influenza situation in AustraliaScan for avian flu in Victoria update.