SA government spends $2m on equipment to help control a potential avian flu outbreak

The state government has ordered a mobile laboratory as part of a $2m spend to guards against the risk of an avian flu outbreak.

The state government has bought a “mass depopulation unit’’ and has ordered a mobile laboratory as it guards against the risk of an outbreak of avian flu that has caused chaos for the poultry industry worldwide.

More than $2 million has been spent this year to help protect the state’s poultry industry, which is worth almost $1 billion a year and includes 128 million birds, against the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).

The state government has spent more than $2 million this year to help protect the state’s poultry industry. Picture: istock

“HPAI infections can result in severe symptoms and up to 100 per cent mortality in domestic poultry,’’ Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven said.

Australia has remained free of the H5 strain of the HPAI virus, but the H7 has been discovered in Victoria, New South Wales and the ACT, leading to the deaths of 2 million chickens across 16 farms.

Earlier this year, the Liberal opposition criticised the government for what it said was an “apparent lack of preparedness” for a potential outbreak. Picture: Mark Brake

In California this week, governor Gavin Newson declared a state of emergency to help deal with a bird flu outbreak, which has spread to humans and cattle.

Earlier this year, the Liberal opposition criticised the government for what it said was an “apparent lack of preparedness” for a potential outbreak.

However, Ms Scriven said SA had bought “supplies and equipment to support an immediate response including PPE, decontamination chemicals and equipment and disposal monitoring equipment’’, as well as “the procurement of a mass depopulation unit, mobile laboratory and decontamination units to be deployed as required’’.

A PIRSA spokesperson said the mobile laboratory was currently being manufactured with delivery scheduled for mid 2025.

“It will enable PIRSA to locate a laboratory near infected areas which will reduce sampling and testing time frames,’’ the spokesperson said.

“In addition it will be also enable the provision of laboratory services should an animal disease outbreak occur in a remote and regional area.’’

Originally published as SA government spends $2m on equipment to help control a potential avian flu outbreak