11,500 birds culled in outbreak of second avian influenza strain

More than 405,000 birds have been or will be culled across four Victorian farms infected with two different strains of avian influenza. See how each farm has been affected.

Two turkey farms have been infected with a low pathogenic strain of avian influenza. Picture: File

ABOUT 11,500 birds have been culled at two Victorian farms after testing positive to a second strain of avian influenza last week.

The low pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza virus was detected in a turkey flock near Lethbridge – which is where two egg farms have been infected with the highly pathogenic H7N7 avian influenza virus – and another turkey farm at Bairnsdale.

Victoria’s Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Graeme Cooke said the H5N2 strain of the virus had a much lower effect on poultry than highly pathogenic avian influenza.

About 4500 birds were culled at Bairnsdale and 7000 at the farm near Lethbridge, which included turkeys and chickens.

About 40,000 chickens were culled on an unnamed free-range egg farm at Lethbridge, which was the first to test positive to the disease on July 31, and 355,000 chickens are expected to be culled at Farm Pride Foods egg farm at Lethbridge, costing the business up to $23 million in lost revenue.

When The Weekly Times asked how the second avian influenza strain had spread from western Victoria to Gippsland, Dr Cooke said: “investigations are ongoing into links between the Lethbridge and Bairnsdale farms”.

“Surveillance of poultry farms is ongoing in the Control and Restricted Areas established in the Golden Plains Shire and near Bairnsdale,” Dr Cooke said.

“Known poultry owners are contacted regularly as part of the surveillance operation, with testing for avian influenza done as required.”

Anyone who owns poultry and is concerned that the birds may be sick with avian influenza must report it to the hotline, 1800 675 888.