40,000 birds culled at farm near Lethbridge after bird flu outbreak
The number of birds to be culled after an avian influenza outbreak in western Victoria has been revealed, as authorities work to contain the spread of the highly contagious disease.
MORE than 40,000 birds will be culled after avian influenza was detected at a free-range egg farm in western Victoria.
The farm, near Lethbridge, tested positive for the highly contagious H7N7 avian influenza virus and was placed under quarantine last Friday.
Movement controls have been put in place for Golden Plains Shire, including a Restricted Area buffer zone established within a radius of 5km from the infected farm.
Victoria’s Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Graeme Cooke said the controls prohibited the movement of birds, related equipment and products within and out of the designated zone, and would be in place until the disease was eradicated.
“Agriculture Victoria is conducting surveillance throughout the restricted area buffer zone to determine whether the virus is contained to the property or whether it may be active in other areas,” Dr Cooke said.
Agriculture Victoria contacted more than 300 property owners over the weekend and samples are being taken and submitted for laboratory testing daily from large producers in the Restricted Area.
No other properties have been identified as infected so far.
The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services said the virus was not a risk to the public as it rarely affected humans and there were no food safety issues identified.
There have been eight highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks on poultry farms in Australia since 1976, when reports were made available, including three in Victoria between 1976 and 1992.
The last reported outbreak in Australia was in 2013, in Young, NSW.
The disease affected two farms which were linked through egg and feed deliveries before the properties were quarantined.
About 490,000 birds were culled, including caged and free-range birds. The cost of eradication was $3.57 million.
A low pathogenic strain of avian influenza was detected in Victoria in 2012, which was the last time avian influenza was detected in domestic birds in the state.
Any cases of unexplained bird deaths in Victoria should be reported to the 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888.
Signs of the disease:
SUDDEN death
BIRDS with difficulty breathing, such as coughing, sneezing, or rasping
SWELLING and purple discolouration of the head, comb, wattles and neck
RAPID drop in eating, drinking and egg production
RUFFLED feathers, dopiness, closed eyes
DIARRHOEA
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