OUT BREAK, Aug 3, 2024: Australian Government Notification, Animal and plant pests and diseases.
H7 high pathogenicity avian influenza
High pathogenicity avian influenza, or bird flu, is a viral disease of birds and is spreading globally, causing widespread losses of poultry and wild birds, and spill over infections in mammals.
Avian influenza virus strains are described as low pathogenicity (LPAI) or high pathogenicity (HPAI).
Current strains of avian influenza do not appear to transmit easily between humans.
Eggs and chicken meat are safe to eat provided they are handled and cooked according to standard food handling practices.
Detection in Australia
A response to outbreaks of H7 high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) is currently underway on 8 Victorian poultry farms, 6 in New South Wales and 2 in the ACT.
All infected premises across Victoria, NSW and the ACT have been depopulated.
Victoria
The first detection of an H7N3 HPAI strain was confirmed on 22 May 2024 at a poultry farm near Meredith, in the Golden Plains Shire, Victoria. Six other poultry farms in the shire are now infected, with the most recent confirmed on 24 June.
Tracing activities conducted in May also identified a separate H7N9 HPAI strain on a poultry farm near Terang in the Shire of Corangamite
Get the latest on these outbreaks – Agriculture Victoria (https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/biosecurity/animal-diseases/poultry-diseases/avian-influenza-bird-flu)
New South Wales
The NSW Department of Primary Industries is currently responding to 6 outbreaks of H7N8 in poultry in the Hawkesbury district. The first was an egg farm confirmed on 19 June, and then on 22 June a broiler (chicken meat) farm located within the existing Restricted Area, was confirmed with the same strain.
4 cases have been detected on domestic properties in the Hawkesbury Restricted Area.
NSW DPI has a 2 km Restricted Area in place around the infected properties. A broader Control Area is also in place.
These outbreaks are separate to the H7 HPAI strains found in Victorian poultry and are not linked. These outbreaks are likely to be a spillover of the virus from wild birds.
Get the latest on these outbreaks from NSW DPI
(https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/animals-and-livestock/poultry-and-birds/health-disease/avian-influenza)
Australian Capital Territory
Following tracing activities in the ACT, the H7N8 HPAI strain was confirmed on 27 June at a poultry farm. The property was linked to one of the infected properties in NSW.
On 5 July, a second H7N8 infection was confirmed in backyard poultry in the ACT. This residential property is in the existing quarantine area.
To better understand the risks of avian influenza, including how many domestic birds may be in the area, the ACT Government is asking bird owners in its quarantine area (postcodes 2614, 2615, 2617 and 2618) to complete an online form (https://forms.act.gov.au/smartforms/servlet/SmartForm.html?formCode=1701).
Further details of the ACT avian influenza situation can be found on the ACT Environment website (https://www.environment.act.gov.au/parks-conservation/plants-and-animals/biosecurity/biosecurity-alerts/avian-
Government actions
The Australian, and state and territory governments along with affected poultry and egg industries, are working together to manage these outbreaks through well-established response arrangements.
A nationally agreed response plan
control and eradicate HPAI in Victoria is being implemented and regularly reviewed as the response progresses. A response plan has been prepared for implementation in NSW.
Testing at the CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness laboratory confirmed that these strains are genetically related to viruses previously detected in Australian wild birds. The viruses are not the H5 strain currently causing concern globally.
There is no connection between these detections of H7 HPAI in poultry and the detection of H5N1 avian influenza in a person, who recently returned from travel overseas.
Movement restrictions
Restricted Areas have been established around all infected premises in Victoria, NSW, and the ACT. A broader Control Area buffers the restricted areas. Within Restricted and Control areas, there are restrictions on the movement of poultry and birds, poultry products, equipment and certain vehicles.
Housing requirements have been issued by Agriculture Victoria for poultry and birds on properties within the Restricted and Control Areas. This requirement to house or keep poultry enclosed in cages or sheds helps to minimise contact with wild birds and reduces but does not eliminate the risk of spreading the disease.
All infected premises across Victoria, NSW and the ACT have been depopulated.
Egg and chicken meat supply
The national layer hen flock has been impacted by these outbreaks which is resulting in some localised disruption to egg supplies to the retail, hospitality and manufacturing sectors. Consumers can expect to see some empty shelves in the short-term, however, supplies are being re-directed to areas with short supply.
Consumers should refrain from purchasing more eggs than required. Some retailers have already imposed purchasing limits which may extend across retail chains and jurisdictions, including rural and regional areas.
There has been no impact on the supply of chicken meat.
Disease outbreaks are dynamic. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) is monitoring the implications for supplies and working with the poultry industries and the retail sector to manage the supply and movement of product.
As part of this, a National Coordination Mechanism (NCM) involving key industry groups and governments has been meeting regularly to keep across the retail and egg supply situation.
ACCC Guidance on free range egg and chicken meat claims during avian flu outbreak
The ACCC is providing this guidance in relation to its position in situations when avian influenza outbreaks have led to urgent housing orders being put in place. The aim is to provide free range egg and chicken meat producers with regulatory certainty about the ACCC’s enforcement approach when a housing order or producer decision to impose voluntary housing due to avian influenza conflict with the Free Range Labelling Information Standard and the Australian Consumer Law.
Download
ACCC Guidance on free range egg and chicken meat claims during avian flu outbreak (PDF 104 KB)
ACCC Guidance on free range egg and chicken meat claims during avian flu outbreak (DOCX 64 KB)
About avian influenza
Avian influenza virus strains are described as LPAI or HPAI.
Most LPAI strains of avian influenza virus cause minimal disease in wild birds and poultry. There are also strains of HPAI spreading globally causing widescale death of poultry and wild birds.
If poultry become infected, it can spread between birds or when contaminated poultry products, feed, equipment or other items are moved between sites. Avian influenza virus can survive for long periods in droppings, respiratory secretions, water, feathers, eggs and meat.
All bird species are considered vulnerable to avian influenza.
Disease signs
Signs of disease usually appear in several or all birds in a flock, including:
sudden death
lethargy or reluctance to walk, eat or drink droopy appearance or ruffled feathers
head or limb swelling
bruising of the wattle, comb, feet or skin
respiratory signs such as panting, nasal discharge or sneezing diarrhoea
unusual head or neck posture, incoordination, inability to walk or stand
unusual reduction in egg production.
Avian influenza can only be confirmed through laboratory testing of samples collected by a veterinarian or government animal health officer.
Testing and surveillance
Testing of samples from the infected farms found that the viruses were similar to low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) viruses detected in Australian wild bird samples.
There is no indication of an unusual disease event in Australian wild birds.
It is not unusual for LPAI to be detected in wild birds in Australia. On rare occasions, a LPAI can spill over from the wild bird population into domestic poultry then mutate into HPAI strains. Previous outbreaks of HPAI in poultry in Australia were linked to the spillover of LPAI strains from wild birds.
Wild birds can carry LPAI viruses without showing signs of disease. Pre-emptive culling of wild birds is not an appropriate response to these incidents, as it is not known to have any impact on the spread of the disease.
Your obligations
You can help prevent the spread of avian influenza. Avian influenza is a notifiable disease which means it must be reported to biosecurity authorities.
Report sightings
If you see sick or dead birds, talk to your local vet or call the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888. This will put you in touch with your state or territory agriculture department. Avian influenza and Newcastle disease are notifiable animal diseases. You must report a suspected outbreak.
Biosecurity practices on your property
If you own backyard poultry or other birds, these simple steps will help protect them from disease, noting that the virus is easily carried on clothing, equipment and vehicles.
- Keep your equipment and poultry yard or aviary
Remove litter, sand and grit from the aviary between batches of birds, and every few months for resident birds. Thoroughly clean concrete floors, walls and aviary wire with soapy water, and then apply a disinfectant.
Clean and disinfect feed and water containers regularly.
Don’t share equipment with other birdkeepers unless it has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
- Avoid contact between your birds and wild
Prevent contact with wild birds by restricting access to open ponds, lakes and creeks. Protective netting or keeping them housed can help prevent wild birds from mingling with yours.
Clean up surrounding areas to reduce shelter and hiding places for wild birds.
- Don’t let feed and water become contaminated by faeces or other animal
Ensure water supplied to birds is from a chlorinated mains water supply, a clean bore, or treated appropriately if these sources aren’t available (also see the Water Biosecurity Manual
Don’t allow wild birds or pest animals to contaminate your birds’ feed. Store it in a container with a secure lid.
- Practice good hygiene when handling birds including at bird
Always thoroughly wash your hands with soap before and after handling birds.
Clean your footwear and wash clothing regularly and avoid using the same clothing and footwear around your own birds if you have visited other flocks or events such as shows.
Do not take any birds to a show if there are signs of illness in your flock.
All bird equipment and permanent carrying containers should be cleaned and disinfected before and after a show. At the show, avoid handling birds other than your own, if possible.
At home, show birds should always undergo a period of quarantine before returning to the flock. Keep a register of all bird movements in and out of your premises.
For more information, refer to the following resources:
Video on Exhibition Bird Biosecurity (https://youtu.be/dTkr72FMN84)
The National Biosecurity Manual – Exhibition Poultry.
(https://www.agriculture.gov.au/sites/default/files/sitecollectiondocuments/animal-plant/pests- diseases/biosecurity/animal/club-logbook.pdf)
(https://www.agriculture.gov.au/sites/default/files/sitecollectiondocuments/animal-plant/pests- diseases/biosecurity/animal/logbook-for-individuals.pdf)
These resources can be downloaded for free from farmbiosecurity.com.au (https://www.farmbiosecurity.com.au/). The site also has more detailed information on preventing disease in chickens, ducks and other species.
- Limit visitors’ access to your
Restrict access to bird areas.
Ask visitors to wash hands, practice good hygiene, put on clean protective clothing and use footbaths containing appropriate disinfectants at the entrance to bird areas or sheds.
Keep a record of visitors.
- Quarantine new
Separate and monitor new birds for at least 30 days before introducing them to your existing flock. Always source birds from a reputable producer or breeder whose bird health status is known.
Always buy healthy birds and avoid buying them from markets.
Feed and clean quarantined birds after you have tended to other birds.
- Know the signs of
Signs of disease usually appear in several or all birds in a flock, including:
sudden death
lethargy or reluctance to walk, eat or drink
droopy appearance or ruffled feathers head or limb swelling
bruising of the wattle, comb, feet or skin
respiratory signs such as panting, nasal discharge or sneezing diarrhoea
unusual head or neck posture, incoordination, inability to walk or stand unusual reduction in egg production.
- Immediately report any sick or dead
Resources
See more on the response and how you can manage the risk of avian influenza on your property.
Avian influenza information (https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/pests-diseases-weeds/animal/avian-influenza)
Biosecurity planning on your property (https://animalhealthaustralia.com.au/better-on-farm-biosecurity/)
