Bird flu: New avian influenza case in northern Victoria

A Euroa poultry farm is under quarantine, after authorities detected a new avian influenza strain. Meanwhile, neighbouring farms will enter control areas.

A northern Victorian poultry farm is under quarantine after authorities detected a new strain of avian influenza.

It comes just three weeks after authorities confirmed the successful eradication of Victoria’s previous strains.

The CSIRO Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness used diagnostic testing to confirm a high pathogenicity H7N8 strain.

The H7N8 strain is different to the avian influenza strains that closed Victorian poultry farms near Meredith and Terang in 2024.

Agriculture Victoria announced the new case of avian influenza on Saturday, and that staff were assisting control and performing a further investigation.

It said a control order would be established under the Livestock Disease and Control Act 2024, which meant a 5km restricted area around the Euroa property, and control area in the eastern part of Strathbogie Shire.

Victoria’s acting chief veterinarian Cameron Bell said the business acted quickly to identify the infection and alert biosecurity authorities.

“Avian influenza is commonly spread by wild birds, and unfortunately, despite the business having excellent biosecurity controls in place, poultry have been infected,” he said.

People in direct contact with infected poultry could be affected, but risk to the public remained low.

Victorian poultry and bird owners must keep sheds, yards, aviaries and equipment clean, and restrict contact between poultry and wild birds.

People should keep footwear clean, wash hands before and after handling poultry and produce, and quarantine new birds before integrating with existing ones.

Any suspected cases can be reported to their veterinarian, or the 24-hour emergency animal disease hotline is 1800 675 888.

Originally published as Bird flu: New avian influenza case in northern Victoria