THE Federal Government yesterday announced a $95 million investment to prepare and protect the nation against a strain of avian influenza that carries significant risks for agricultural industries, our unique wildlife and the national economy.

Australia is the only continent that remains free from high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1, but its rapid global spread has led to significant impacts in poultry, wild birds and some mammal species, including respiratory illness, reduction in egg production and sudden death.

The disease has swept through countries across the world, including the United States where testing is ongoing in dairy herds. Beef cattle have not been impacted.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, avian influenza virus type A (H5N1) has been confirmed in dairy cattle in 14 states: 100 herds in California, 64 in Colorado, 33 in Idaho, 29 in Michigan, 26 in Texas, 13 in Iowa, nine each in Minnesota and New Mexico, seven in South Dakota, four in Kansas, two in Oklahoma, and one each in North Carolina, Ohio, and Wyoming.

Tests so far indicate that the virus detected in dairy cattle is H5N1, Eurasian lineage goose/Guangdong clade, the same variant that has been affecting wild birds and commercial poultry flocks and that has caused sporadic infections in several species of wild and domestic mammals, and humans in the United States.

Agriculture Victoria continues to respond to the detection of avian influenza at poultry farms near Terang and Meredith.

The announcement include:

• $37 million invested in initiatives to protect Australian agriculture, including:
  • $15 million to increase national biosecurity response capability and improve surveillance with key partners including the states and territories;
  • $5 million to boost biosecurity and scientific capability, including procuring vaccines for use in some captive threatened bird species;
  • Up to $10 million invested in nationally coordinated communications to ensure the Australian community is informed, prepared and protected;
  • $7 million invested to enhance wild bird surveillance activities through Wildlife Health Australia, to improve early detection and reporting capacity.
• $35.9 million will be invested to boost environmental measures and accelerate protective action for threatened species and priority biodiversity. That work includes supporting state and territory governments to boost preparedness planning for our most vulnerable species and places, and key conservation partners to improve protections for precious captive populations of threatened species.
• $22.1 million to strengthen public health preparedness by increasing the number of ready-to-use pandemic flu vaccines in the National Medical Stockpile. While human infections with avian influenza viruses are rare, the interim Australian Centre for Disease Control is focused on ensuring Australia is as prepared as possible for any potential case of human infection.

It is also in addition to the previous announcement of $6.9 million to enhance national preparedness and response capability for a potential HPAI H5N1 incursion in Australia.

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Julie Collins said the Albanese Labor Government has already invested more than $1 billion in the national biosecurity system to ensure Australia is prepared for the threat of incursions like this strain of avian influenza.

“This strain of avian influenza presents a real and significant threat to Australia’s agriculture sector. Impacts experienced this year from outbreaks of other strains of high pathogenicity avian influenza highlight the importance of continued investment in national preparedness.

“That is why we are investing more than $100 million in preparedness,” she said.

“Today’s announcement will strengthen our ability to detect any incursion and enhance biosecurity responses where it counts – working in partnership to collaboratively manage national biosecurity threats.”

Virus sweeping US dairy herds

The American Veterinary Medical Association released an update on Friday, saying Avian Influenza virus type A (H5N1) has now been confirmed in dairy cattle in 14 US states, comprising 100 herds in California, 64 in Colorado, 33 in Idaho, 29 in Michigan, 26 in Texas, 13 in Iowa, nine each in Minnesota and New Mexico, seven in South Dakota, four in Kansas, two in Oklahoma, and one each in North Carolina, Ohio, and Wyoming. Tests so far indicate that the virus detected in US dairy cattle is H5N1, Eurasian lineage goose/Guangdong clade, the same variant that has been affecting wild birds and commercial poultry flocks and that has caused sporadic infections in several species of wild and domestic mammals, and humans in the United States.

• More information about the Australian Government response to the threat of HPAI H5N1 is available at birdflu.gov.au

Source: Minister for Agriculture