Bird flu Victoria: Second farm gets avian influenza near Lethbridge
Another egg farm in western Victoria has been hit with bird flu, with authorities making it a requirement that all nearby free-range poultry be housed inside.
BIRD flu has been detected at a second egg farm in western Victoria.
The highly contagious H7N7 avian influenza virus was first detected in birds at a free-range egg farm near Lethbridge last week.
On Friday, the farm was placed under quarantine and movement controls were put in place for Golden Plains Shire, including a Restricted Area buffer zone established within a radius of 5km from the infected farm.
The controls prohibited the movement of birds, related equipment and products within and out of the designated zone.
Samples are being taken and submitted for laboratory testing daily from large producers in the Restricted Area.
Positive results from birds at the second farm were returned overnight. The farm has been placed under quarantine and all birds will be destroyed.
Victoria’s Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Graeme Cooke said both properties would remain under quarantine without birds until all requirements were met for restocking.
More than 40,000 birds were culled at the first farm.
A 5km buffer zone has been established around the second farm.
All free-range poultry must now be housed indoors within the controlled area.
“This applies to commercial operators within the control area. Backyard flock owners must take all practical measures to reduce contact between wild birds and their domestic poultry,” Dr Cooke said.
“At this stage of the response we consider it prudent to keep the housing order in place for a minimum of thirty days.”
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
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.
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