Authorities reassure community South West bird flu case unrelated and less spreadable than Victorian outbreak

Authorities have sought to quell fears over the detection of bird flu at a South West mixed poultry farm days after a separate outbreak of a different strain in Victoria. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development confirmed the case at an unknown property on Thursday but was quick to allay fears of an outbreak similar to that seen in the Eastern States, which has reportedly led to the culling of 400,000 chickens. DPIRD said the case in the region was the less spreadable strain of avian influenza, H9N2. Acting chief veterinary officer Katie Webb said the latest case had been contained. “The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is managing a detection of low pathogenic H9N2 avian influenza in a poultry operation in the South West of WA,” she said. “Testing at the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness confirmed this is not the more serious H5 high pathogenicity avian influenza associated with disease and mortality in poultry in other countries, or the H7 high pathogenicity avian influenza that is currently being managed in a Victorian poultry farm. “H9 strains of avian influenza are known to occur in wild bird populations in Australia and have previously been detected in WA.” Dr Webb said authorities were working with the property owner to minimise risks. “DPIRD has been working with the affected poultry operation to manage the detection and reduce the likelihood of spread, and to implement additional biosecurity measures to reduce the risk of new introduction from wild birds,” she said. “The property is currently under a pest control notice to manage the movement of relevant animals and products off the property. “The detection is an important reminder for owners of poultry, including backyard chickens and aviary birds, to follow simple biosecurity measures to reduce contact with wild birds and reduce the risk of introduction.” The case comes amid an outbreak of the H7 strain at a chicken farm in Victoria, as well as a separate case of the H5N1 strain in a child who returned to Australia from India in March. The child has since made a full recovery and health experts say person-to-person spread of the virus is “very low”. Dr Webb said more information on bird flu could be found on the DPIRD website. “Biosecurity resources are available on the DPIRD avian influenza webpage,” she said. “Unusual signs of disease or mass mortalities in domesticated birds, wild birds or other wildlife should be reported to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.”