Highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected on a duck farm near Melbourne, Australia, adding to the spread of the virus to nearby poultry farms. The government of Victoria state confirmed that the duck farm was located within a designated quarantine zone surrounding affected facilities.
Efforts are underway to contain outbreaks of two strains of bird flu in the region, with an H7N3 strain affecting four poultry farms and the duck farm, as well as an H7N9 strain at a farm about 130 km southwest of Melbourne.
Despite concerns, neither of these strains are the H5N1 type that has caused widespread infections globally. The affected ducks will be humanely disposed of, and the area will be cleaned to prevent further spread of the virus.
To control the situation, over a million egg-laying chickens have been culled. While this has caused some disruptions to the supply chain, there is no overall shortage of eggs in the market. Industry experts assure consumers that both duck and chicken products remain safe to consume.
These recent cases mark the tenth outbreak of avian influenza in Australia since 1976, all of which have been successfully contained and eradicated. Federal authorities emphasize that the situation is under control and urge the public to remain confident in the safety of poultry products.
© Thomson Reuters 2024.