Canberra: Australian authorities confirmed the detection of a highly pathogenic bird flu strain at an egg farm near Melbourne on Wednesday. However, they clarified that it differs from the global strain affecting dairy cows in the United States.
The agriculture ministry of Victoria state announced that the affected egg farm has been placed under quarantine following the deaths of numerous poultry.
Initial laboratory tests revealed an unidentified H7 strain, likely originating from the wild bird population and previously observed in Australia, stated Victoria’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Graeme Cooke. He emphasized the imposition of movement restrictions in the farm’s vicinity and the imminent destruction of the infected birds.
“This area does have a high density of poultry businesses, both egg laying and poultry meat,” Cooke informed the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) radio. “At this stage, we can’t say whether there’ll be any onward spread to other properties. We are now taking measures necessary to stamp it out to remove any onward spread.”
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Reassuringly, Cooke affirmed that the outbreak poses no threat to human health.
Australia has encountered nine incidents of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) since 1976, all of which were promptly contained and eliminated, as per government reports. The most recent episode involved an H7N7 strain spread in Victoria in 2020.
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Despite these challenges, Australia remains the sole continent free of the H5N1 avian influenza virus, which has wreaked havoc globally in recent months. This strain has led to the deaths of millions of poultry, disrupted food supply chains, and sparked concerns about potential human transmission.
