The Hawkesbury outbreak was one the most significant in New South Wales with more than 320,000 animals destroyed since June 2024 to curb the spread of the potentially devastating disease.
The strain was found at two commercial poultry farms and four other premises but no new cases have been found since July 2024.
From Jan. 24, restrictions on the movement of birds, objects, and other equipment will end, and designated emergency zones will be scrapped.
“This has taken an immense response by the NSW Government working with industry, farmers, and the community to control this outbreak and eventually eradicate the virus,” NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said.
“I want to thank all the staff and industry personnel who worked tirelessly to protect the industry and minimise impacts.”
Some 6801 samples were tested since the outbreak began, with 76,000 texts sent to property owners and 288 people tasked to work on the response.
The H7N8 strain was found in NSW, with one case detected in the ACT at a property linked to one of the affected NSW properties.
It was not connected to an earlier outbreak in Victoria, which led to some one million birds being destroyed.
Cases detected in Australia are different to the H5N1 strain that has devastated animal populations overseas.
Australia remains the only continent free of the highly pathogenic strain that has led to major outbreaks in wild populations and at poultry and dairy farms.
The World Health Organization says H5N1 rarely affects humans and does not easily transfer between people.
