Queensland’s Department of Primary Industries has today confirmed a new outbreak of high pathogenicity avian influenza H7N8 (H7 bird flu) in poultry at an egg farm in northern Victoria.
Testing carried out by CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness in Geelong has confirmed that this is a different strain to those that impacted poultry farms in VIC, NSW and ACT last year, the Department said in a statement.
“This is also not the HPAI H5N1 strain that has devastated poultry and wildlife populations around the world,” it stated.
A declared area is in place in Victoria to prevent movements that could spread the virus.Â
The Department said it was essential that all poultry producers and pet birds owners take precautions to prevent disease:
- Don’t let wild birds have any contact with kept birds, their water or food;
- Keep aviaries and equipment clean;
- Always wash hands with soap before and after handling birds;
- Know the signs of bird flu.
Producers should report higher than usual bird deaths to either:
- Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23
- Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
