Work progresses on local avian influenza threat

AGRICULTURE Victoria has now completed work on depopulating the four poultry farms confirmed to have avian influenza in the Golden Plains Shire and East Gippsland.
Victoria’s Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Graeme Cooke said while this was an important milestone as part of eradication efforts, this did not mean the threat was over.
“We’re urging everyone to remain vigilant and be alert to the presence of sick or dead birds, either in their own backyard hens or flocks, and in wild birds,” Dr Cooke said.
“Avian influenza is present in our wild birds and environment, so it can occasionally spill into our domestic bird populations.
“It is crucial that we can identify these cases quickly so we can stop it spreading.
“Report sick or dead birds anywhere in the state to the 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888 to help us eradicate avian influenza.”
A strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H7N7) virus was first detected at a free-range egg farm near Lethbridge on July 31, with a second affected farm confirmed to have the virus on Thursday August 6.
A turkey farm in the Golden Plains Shire and at Bairnsdale were found to have the low pathogenic strain (H5N2) of avian influenza on August 10.
With no live birds remaining on the infected properties, work is now underway to thoroughly decontaminate the sites to ensure we eliminate all remnants of the virus.
Dr Cooke said movement controls of domestic birds, bird products or equipment, into, out of or within the Restricted and Control Areas, spanning all of the Golden Plains Shire and the specified area near Bairnsdale, is not allowed without a permit from Agriculture Victoria.
“This includes buying, selling or moving eggs, manure and chickens, whether on the side of the road, from your property, your local store, online (such as Gumtree or Facebook) or at markets.
“Purchasing eggs or chicken meat in retail food outlets or supermarkets is not restricted.
“These controls will remain in place until we are confident that the disease has not spread further and has been eradicated,” he said.
In addition, a housing order is in place for Golden Plains Shire requiring all bird owners (pet, backyard and commercial) in the area to house or keep them in an enclosure for a minimum of 30 days from August 7.
If you have pet birds or backyard hens or flocks in the Restricted or Control Areas near Bairnsdale or in Golden Plains Shire, you must observe all associated restrictions.
The Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed the H7N7 and H5N2 strains of avian influenza are not a risk to the public as they rarely affect humans unless there is direct and close contact with sick birds.
More information including applications for permits is available on the Agriculture Victoria website at http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/avianflu or phone 4334 2715.