Livestock producers have been reminded to report dead birds after bird flu outbreak.

LIVESTOCK producers have been reminded to report any sick or dead birds as a priority following confirmation of high pathogenicity avian influenza — H7 bird flu — in poultry at an egg farm near Euroa in northern Victoria.

The variant confirmed is H7N8 not the H5N1 high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) strain that has significantly impacted poultry and wildlife populations around the world.

And testing carried out by CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness has confirmed that this is a different strain to strains in the Australian 2024 outbreaks in Victoria, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.

Nevertheless Animal Health Australia has urged livestock producers to report any sick or dead birds to the 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

Confirmation of the new outbreak occurred less than a week after Australia declared freedom from three different H7 bird flu strains that impacted the poultry industry last year, and were successfully eradicated.

Areas shown in red on the map above are located in the restricted area and the control area is marked in purple.

Agriculture Victoria has confirmed the affected property has been quarantined and a declared area is in place in the eastern two-thirds of the Strathbogie Shire to prevent movements that could spread the virus.

Agriculture Victoria staff are on the ground to assist control, support the business and investigate further, and a control order under the Livestock Disease and Control Act 1994 is being established. This will include a restricted area extending about 5km around the impacted property and a control area in the eastern portion of the Strathbogie Shire to prevent movements that could spread the virus.

Victoria’s acting chief veterinarian Cameron Bell praised the poultry business for alerting Agriculture Victoria as soon as they suspected the presence of disease in their flock.

“Avian influenza is commonly spread by wild birds, and unfortunately, despite the business having excellent biosecurity controls in place, poultry have been infected.

“The business has acted quickly to identify the infection within the flock and are working closely with Agriculture Victoria officers to contain the outbreak,” Dr Bell said.

Avian influenza is a viral disease of birds found globally. Virus strains are described as low pathogenicity (LPAI) or high pathogenicity (HPAI).

While cases among humans in direct contact with animals infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses are possible, the current risk to the public remains low, Agriculture Victoria said.

The agency said every producer should have an on-farm biosecurity plan and know the signs of diseases that could affect their animals. It also reminded all poultry and bird owners across Victoria to follow best biosecurity practices such as keeping poultry sheds, yards, aviaries and equipment clean, and restricting contact between poultry and wild birds.

Agriculture Victoria said bird owners should also ensure their footwear is clean, always wash hands before and after handling birds or eggs and quarantine new birds before integrating with existing ones. The agency said consumers should not be concerned about eggs and poultry products from the supermarkets; they do not pose a risk and are safe to consume.

Poultry farmers, backyard flock and bird owners are urged to report any cases of unexplained bird deaths to the 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888 or to your local vet.