To protect our birds and your food, more than half a million chickens need to die.
That’s the cold, harsh reality of Australia’s tough biosecurity measures, facing their latest test from avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu.
The average Australian eats 263 eggs a year and nearly 50kg of chicken, so protecting the supply of some of our favourite foods is important to government authorities, businesses that sell it and farmers that produce it.
The ninth outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Australia since 1976 is on our shores and two Victorian farms are in lockdown, under strict quarantine restrictions and government authorities are working hard to control the outbreak.
University of Queensland virologist Kirsty Short said this swift reaction was a sign of Australia’s strict biosecurity system working.
“The first thing that goes through my mind is it was detected and reported, which is fantastic because the last thing we want to have is a bird die off that is not reported,” she said.
Finding any animal disease early is key as it allows authorities to put restrictions on movement and stop the spread, but that doesn’t mean birds on an infected farm will survive.
“Authorities are really very professional at dealing with these outbreaks,” Dr Short said.
“Unfortunately what happens in these kind of outbreaks when it is highly pathogenic avian influenza there is a large culling of poultry.
“It’s a very dramatic policy but it has to be because it is the way of stopping it from spreading to other poultry farms.”
Killing infected chickens helps protect the food system and stop one highly populated farm being the source of more widespread infection to other farms and back into the environment.
The government authority responsible for managing this latest outbreak at farms at Meredith and Terang in Victoria, Agriculture Victoria, refers to this as ‘depopulation,’ of the infected farms.
“We now move towards stamping out the disease which means removing the diseased and at risk population and disposing of them in a way which means there is no risk of onward spread,” Victoria’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Graeme Cooke explained.
Culling protects birds, food and farmers
The decision to cull infected chicken properties is supported by the chicken industry.
An outbreak is tragic for the grower but ultimately the protection of the industry and the safety of food for consumers is most important, according to Australian Chicken Growers Council CEO Joanne Sillince.
“There is absolutely no doubt that this a complete tragedy for that farm,” Ms Sillince said.
“The government will help out a bit but it’s not the same as losing everything you have ever worked for.
“But moving very quickly to control this disease saves the birds and the incomes of all the other farms in the area — indeed all of Australia.”
Supply impact ‘a blip’
Vice president of the Victorian Farmers Federation Danyel Cucinotta is a third-generation egg farmer at Werribee, west of Melbourne — a long way from the infected farm.
But she knows despite the best efforts of biosecurity agencies and farmers she may still bare the brunt of the outbreak.
“Worst of all for us is, is what [the outbreak] does to demand and supply,” she said.
“If those birds are in peak production, we are looking at being about 450,000 eggs a day down.”
Brendan Blake, owner of Blake Family Grocers in Daylesford, Castlemaine and Ballarat said this was not a particularly substantial portion of the state’s supply.
He said any further outbreaks would be concerning as they could affect the supply chain, but currently consumers should not worry.
“If there is a massive reduction in stock, it evidently will lead to a price rise,” he said.
“Simply the supply and demand issue comes into play – there is less supply, therefore there is greater demand.”
Mr Blake said he would be watching the outbreak closely, particularly if it spread into chicken meat farms.
Dr Sillince said she was confident Australia would be able to maintain egg supply.
“Australia is a very robust supplier of eggs and you can move eggs within states,” she said.
“It is only 24 weeks between a fertile egg turning into an egg producer.
“If there is a blip, it won’t last very long.”
The ABC understands Coles is also closely watching the situation and will work with suppliers across the country to keep eggs on shelves.
Woolworths told the ABC in a statement it did not expect any supply challenges or changes to egg prices.
No food safety risk
Victoria’s Chief Vet was confident in reassuring Australians that their food was safe to eat.
“There is no risk. The Department of Health work very closely with us and their advice of food remains the same,” Dr Cooke said.
“We don’t want the general consumer to feel like they can’t consume either poultry or egg products.
“They are completely safe to consume and anything that isn’t safe will be destroyed and will never leave farm,” Ms Cucinotta said.
“If anyone is concerned about eating eggs or poultry product, [this virus] is just like any other kind of bacteria. As long as you cook them in their full capacity.
“So just scramble an egg instead of having it soft poached, that will kill off any bacteria to start with.”
Control measures
Agriculture Victoria has implemented a housing requirement for all birds within designated movement control zones around Meredith and Terang.
These restricted areas cover a 5km radius around the infected farms, with a broader buffer zone for both properties.
Under the requirement, all poultry farmers, backyard flock and bird owners wihtin these areas must house or keep birds enclosed as practically as possible, or risk penalties.
In a statement issued on Friday evening, Dr Cooke said the move has been supported by the industry.
“The order will reduce the risk that more birds will contract avian influenza, however it will not eliminate the risk of spread.”
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