The Australian Government continues to enact its emergency animal disease response plans to support the Hawkesbury following the Avian Influenza detection in the Hawkesbury Local Government Area.
The NSW Government has enacted its emergency biosecurity incident plan to address the detection of avian influenza in the Hawkesbury district on the poultry egg farms that have been identified with the High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI).
As confirmed by the CSIRO national testing labs, the HPAI detected is the H7N8 type and is not the same strain as the current Victorian outbreak. It is understood at this point to be a separate spill-over event, potentially from wild birds.
Affected local farms are under quarantine with the NSW Department of Primary Industries actively providing support and the CSIRO Australian Centre of Disease Preparedness conducting testing. Testing has confirmed the outbreak is an H7 strain, so it Is not the strain of avian influenza (H5) that is currently causing concern globally.
The Australian Government has been preparing for a possible avian flu outbreak for some time, along with representatives from Commonwealth and State and Territory government agencies and other bodies, to ensure national preparedness actions are coordinated between the animal and human health and environmental sectors.
The Hawkesbury farming community has been through so much with bushfires and floods, so this new heath emergency is just more on top, the Mayor of Hawkesbury, Councilor Sarah McMahon said.
“We feel sorry for the affected farmers, and for what their families and staff are going through,” Mayor McMahon said.
“We thank our local poultry farmers and bird owners for following best biosecurity practices and reporting any signs of the signs of avian influenza and suspicious bird deaths immediately to the national Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.”
Where can I get more information?
Australia’s nationally agreed AUSVETPLAN Response Strategy for Avian Influenza is available at www.animalhealthaustralia.com.au
Plain English Guide – Avian influenza
www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/1565991/20240627_AI-Plain-English-Guide.pdf
Avian influenza questions and answers
Avian influenza routes of transmission
AI can be spread rapidly by close contact between birds or bird faeces, movements of contaminated people, equipment, water, feed, bedding and vehicles
NSW DPI’s Bioresponse app
BioResponse NSW is an easy-to-use app that provides users with fast, reliable, targeted and up-to-date information about biosecurity emergencies direct to your smartphone, tablet or computer.
Download BioResponse NSW on the App Store (apple.com) or Google Play Store