A north-east Victorian poultry farm is in quarantine after a new case of bird flu was detected.
Agriculture Victoria announced on Saturday that testing by the CSIRO confirmed the case of high pathogenicity H7N8 strain of avian influenza at the Euroa property.
The source of the new outbreak remains unknown.
The latest case is different from the avian influenza strains that impacted more than a dozen Victorian, New South Wales and ACT poultry farms in 2024.
The current H5N1 avian influenza strain is also impacting the US and other parts of the world.
It comes after Agriculture Victoria lifted quarantine on the last Victorian property infected by H7 avian influenza last month.
Victoria’s acting chief veterinarian, Cameron Bell, said poultry deaths on the property were reported early last week and were investigated by a private vet.
Samples were then submitted to the Agriculture Victoria diagnostic laboratory towards then end of the week.
Dr Bell said initial results on Friday night identified avian influenza virus, before it was confirmed by the CSIRO Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness.
The business is now working closely with Agriculture Victoria officers who are at the property to contain the outbreak.
Dr Bell said the key initial step was safely and humanely disposing of the birds.
He said it could take weeks to month before the property is declared free of the strain.
“These types of investigations are very complex, particularly when you’re investigating something that’s happened in retrospect,” Dr Bell said.
Victoria’s acting chief veterinarian Cameron Bell says the pathogen is highly contagious. (ABC News)
Disease spread ‘very easily’
A 5-kilometre exclusion zone has been placed around the chicken farm.
A control area is also in place for the eastern part of Strathbogie Shire.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said there was a huge effort by Agriculture Victoria last year to contain the outbreak, and authorities would work hard to stop the spread of the latest strain.
“This is a disease that is very easily spread by birds, and this is why strong action will be taken to set up quarantine arrangements around this latest outbreak,” she said.
Authorities have confirmed it is still safe to eat eggs and poultry products from supermarkets.
Dr Bell said while the affected property was a commercial poultry farm, he did not expect major impacts to supply.
“Some large egg farms were impacted during last year’s event, and it is disappointing to be in this a position again,” he said.
“Fortunately, this time the farm is not one of our larger egg production facilities so we expect the impacts on supply from this event will be less.”
Poultry farmers, backyard flock and bird owners have been urged to report any cases of unexplained bird deaths.
Bird owners are being reminded to ensure their footwear is clean, to always wash their hands before and after handling birds or eggs, and to quarantine new birds before integrating them with existing ones.
