Restrictions ease on Golden Plains poultry farmers after bird flu outbreak

Golden Plains poultry farmers have been offered a reprieve months after avian influenza was discovered at four Lethbridge farms.

Poultry restrictions have been eased across the Golden Plains Shire months after an Avian Influenza outbreak threatened birds on farms across the state.

Agriculture Victoria announced last week that movement controls were being incrementally removed, with only small areas on properties that had been infected in Lethbridge, Kerang and Bairnsdale in the state’s southeast.

Avian Influenza, known commonly as bird flu, is described as a highly contagious viral infection though it is rarely transmitted to humans.

Serious symptoms can cause sudden death in poultry, but mild strains can go undetected in some forms of birds.

The restricted areas in the Golden Plains Shire was removed on January 4, now replaced by a 5km control area covering all infected properties.

Under the order, a permit is required to move poultry, poultry products in or out of these areas.

Surveillance of wild and domestic birds, and monitoring of impacted farms is ongoing.

Four farms across the shire have tested positive for the virus, and three egg farms confirmed the presence of high pathogenic strain H7N7.

Another separate, low pathogenic strain of the virus was discovered at Lethbridge and linked to a Bairnsdale turkey farm.

Victoria’s chief veterinary officer Dr Graeme Cook confirmed in September that roughly 450,000 birds had been culled as a result of the infection.

“Agriculture Victoria will undertake the appropriate actions to depopulate and decontaminate the site,” he said.

“Avian influenza viruses occur naturally among wild birds and can be difficult to detect as they may not show signs but can cause infections in our domestic bird populations.”

Originally published as Restrictions ease on Golden Plains poultry farmers after bird flu outbreak