Bird flu has been detected at a second farm in the Hawkesbury region of New South Wales (NSW) in Australia, with the High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) strain H7N8 being discovered through proactive surveillance efforts. The NSW government had previously announced the first case of avian flu at a Hawkesbury egg farm on June 19 and activated an emergency biosecurity incident plan. Now, the CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) has confirmed another case about 1.5 kilometers from the original infected farm site.
NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty noted that the biosecurity plan is proving effective, allowing for rapid responses to survey, test, and detect additional sites. She assured that the virus detected in NSW is different from the one impacting farms in Victoria and is not the H5N1 strain causing global concern. The government will continue testing at sites within the control zone to prevent further spread.
Premier Chris Minns emphasized in a press conference that there is no need for unnecessary worry about the specific strain of bird flu detected, as health authorities have confirmed no risk to human consumption. Despite this assurance, the government remains vigilant and focused on managing the outbreak in collaboration with the industry.
A total of 87,000 more birds will be euthanized as part of the depopulation process, in addition to the 240,000 birds impacted by the initial avian influenza case in NSW. Notably, over one million birds had to be euthanized in Victoria to contain the spread of the virus. The ongoing efforts aim to minimize the impact on poultry farming while ensuring food safety for consumers.
Overall, the coordinated response by government agencies, biosecurity officers, and industry stakeholders underscores the importance of swift action in containing and managing avian influenza outbreaks. The strict measures implemented reflect Australia’s commitment to maintaining world-class biosecurity and food safety standards to protect the food supply chain. Please rewrite this sentence.
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