Avian influenza has been detected at a second poultry farm in Victoria, Agriculture Victoria (AV) has confirmed.
The outbreak was recorded at a second farm in Euroa, close to where the first Victorian case of 2025 was found less than a week ago.
This second property has about 180,000 birds, which will be “depopulated” in line with biosecurity requirements.
The same strain of influenza, H7N8, has been detected at both properties and was discovered as a result of tracing activities.
AV acting chief veterinary officer, Cameron Bell, said the second detection was not unexpected.
“There are known connections between the properties, which was how we identified high-priority testing sites early, even before disease was suspected,” Dr Bell said.
Both farms are owned by one of Australia’s leading egg producers, Kinross Farms, and run free-range layer hens.
Managing director Philip Szepe said it was a challenging situation for the business.
It is still safe to eat eggs and poultry products. (ABC News: Sophie Johnson)
“We continue to work with Agriculture Victoria and other relevant authorities to manage the situation now affecting two properties, in line with well-established national response arrangements to manage an avian influenza outbreak,” he said.
“Our other farms across Victoria are operating under Agriculture Victoria guidelines, with the same strict biosecurity protocols we have in place across all properties.
“We also want to thank our customers for the support they have shown over the past week. Avian influenza doesn’t affect eggs or chicken meat and we appreciate our customers’ continued support for our eggs.”
Quarantine in place
A quarantine control area remains in place east of the Goulburn Valley Freeway in the Strathbogie Shire, including Euroa, Violet Town, and Strathbogie.
“If you are in the control or restricted areas, you cannot move birds, products (including eggs and manure) or equipment into, out of, or within the area without a permit,” Dr Bell said.
“This includes selling or giving away eggs from your poultry – these must not leave your property.
“The Hume Freeway does pass through those areas, however exemptions are in place to allow vehicles that are transporting birds and poultry products to travel along the Hume Freeway, providing the vehicles don’t stop in the restricted or control areas or deviate from the freeway.”
A housing requirement has also been introduced for producers with more than 50 poultry birds within a 5 kilometre radius from the affected properties in all directions.
All birds within that radius must remain sheltered and away from wild birds.
The outbreak comes as egg shortages are being felt by consumers across the nation as the supply chain recovers from last year’s bird flu outbreak.
