Bird Flu Detected in New South Wales, Farm in Lockdown

A test tube labelled "Bird Flu" and eggs in a picture illustration on Jan. 14, 2023. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters)

Bird flu has been detected at a farm in the Hawkesbury district of New South Wales (NSW), near Sydney.

This comes after seven farms in Victoria were infected with avian flu during the months of May and June.

The NSW farm has been placed into quarantine and the government is now working closely with the property to manage the outbreak.

In an alert put out on June 19, the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) explained the avian flu strain detected at the property is separate to that found in Victoria.

“Avian influenza has been detected at commercial poultry farm in the Greater Sydney Basin on June 19, 2024,” DPI said.

“Importantly the HPAI H7N8 strain detected in NSW is not the same as the H5N1 strain that is causing concern globally and is not connected to the Victorian outbreak.”

The department reassured the community that HPAI has been eradicated from NSW three times before, the most recent being in Young in 2013.

Meanwhile, NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said a formal control order will be declared in the afternoon on June 19 that will extend biosecurity control to a radius of 1-2 kilometres around the farm site.

“High pathogenic diseases spread quickly and have a high mortality rate among poultry birds, which is why there has been an immediate lock down of the farm,” she said.

She said the government would work closely with industry to reduce the risk of spread and minimise any impact on egg supply.

“This detection does not pose a risk to consumer health and the products are safe to consume, if they are handled and cooked as per standard food handling practices,” Ms. Moriarty said.

The Food Safety Regulator in Australia recently reassured Australians the bird flu is not a food safety concern and it is safe to eat chicken, eggs, and egg products that are properly prepared and handled.

FSANZ chief executive officer Dr. Sandra Cuthbert said Australia’s world-class biosecurity and food regulation systems ensure the safety of the food supply.

“Together, biosecurity and food regulation measures provide confidence in the safety of the food supply,” she said.

Meanwhile, avian influenza has now been detected at a seventh Victorian farm. Testing affirmed the high pathogenicity H7N3 strain has been discovered at another commercial egg farm in the Golden Plains Shire.

“Movement restrictions are expected to be in place for several weeks, and we’re working with industry to support poultry farmers with the logistical challenges they’re facing,” Victoria chief veterinary officer Graeme Cooke said.

Following detection of the H7 strain of bird flu in Victoria, University of Queensland virologist Dr. Kirsty Short said, “It is very reassuring that the strain identified is an H7 virus (which we have previously had outbreaks of in Australia) rather than the problematic H5N1 strain that is circulating globally.”

“However, this should serve as an important reminder as to the need for constant vigilance regarding avian influenza and the need to report any sick or dying birds to the appropriate authorities,” she added.