Outbreak probably brought on by wild birds
20 June 2024
1 minute learn
Extremely pathogenic avian influenza was detected at a industrial poultry egg farm close to Sydney, Reuters reported, citing Australian authorities on Wednesday, triggering emergency quarantine measures.
The H7N8 flu pressure discovered is totally different from the H7N3 and H7N9 strains detected in neighbouring Victoria state, and the H5N1 pressure, which has contaminated billions of untamed and farmed animals globally and raised fears of human transmission.
“It’s understood at this level to be a separate spill-over occasion, probably from wild birds,” New South Wales state Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty mentioned in an announcement.
The farm within the Hawkesbury area in Sydney’s west has been shut down and biosecurity management measures will likely be prolonged to as much as 2 km (1.24 miles) across the farm website, Moriarty mentioned.
The detection of the avian influenza doesn’t pose a danger to client well being, and poultry merchandise are secure to eat if they’re cooked as per commonplace meals dealing with practices, she mentioned.
Australia has skilled 9 outbreaks of extremely pathogenic avian influenza since 1976, which have been all contained and eradicated, the federal government mentioned.
Three of these outbreaks have been in New South Wales, the newest being in 2013.
