H7 avian influenza eradicated

Several strains of the H7 high pathogenicity avian influenza virus have been eradicated seven months after they were first detected at a cost estimated to be in the hundreds of millions.

Victoria has successfully eradicated H7 high pathogenicity avian influenza eight months after a strain of the disease was first detected at a poultry farm in Meredith.

Several different viral strains of the H7 avian influenza were later detected at 8 Victorian poultry farms, 6 in New South Wales and 2 in the Australian Capital Territory.

The cost of eradication across the three states and territories is estimated to be in excess of $300 million.

The federal Treasury’s mid-year economic and fiscal outlook, released last month, said since the 2024-25 federal budget, the Commonwealth has provided an additional $154.6 million for its share of the three large scale responses to H7 outbreaks.

Under the terms of emergency cost-sharing agreements following a disease incursion, the federal government is typically liable for 50 per cent of total government funding for the nationally agreed response.

In Victoria, eradication also came at a cost of 1.3m birds to the industry, which most producers would be largely left out of pocket for.

Victorian Farmers Federation egg group president Meg Parkinson said insurance companies refused to insure farmers for disease, despite the industry’s president lobbying over many years.

“The egg induct has tried on a number of occasions at Lloyds in London to do something about this. They simply don’t want to do it,” Ms Parkinson said.

She said growers would receive some compensation from the federal government that the industry would largely pay for through higher levies over the next five years. But impacted farmers would be without an income for another four-to-six months until their birds were old enough to start producing eggs.

Victoria’s acting chief veterinary officer Cameron Bell said the two strains of H7 avian influenza detected in the state last year have been successfully eradicated. All affected properties now have sentinel birds in place.

“Victoria’s response included undertaking extensive surveillance, with testing of 38,000 birds taking place,” Dr Bell said.

The high pathogenicity avian influenza strains that affected farms in Australia were not the H5 AI strain impacting wild birds, mammals and poultry overseas.