Western Australian poultry farms locked down after H5N1 bird flu discovered in wild birds | Bird flu
Poultry farms in Western Australia have been quarantined after it was confirmed that the deadly H5N1 bird flu had reached the country’s mainland.
On Monday, Inghams Group, Australia’s largest poultry producer, declared a “total quarantine” in Western Australia despite the detection of H5N1 on a commercial basis.
It comes after a brown skua found on a remote beach near Esperance at the weekend was discovered to have the “highly pathogenic” H5N1 virus. A giant wader was also tested in the same area and returned a preliminary positive result. more than a dozen Cases of sick or dead birds off the WA coast.
Before the arrival of H5N1 was confirmed, Australia was the only continent free of the virus, which has killed millions of birds and thousands of marine mammals since 2021.
Inghams said in a statement that it would ask the state government to allow free-range chickens to be kept indoors and that all non-essential access to its operations would be stopped.
Australia’s chief veterinary officer, Beth Cookson, told the ABC’s Radio National that the virus had not been detected in wildlife, poultry or agricultural systems. But officials are trying to figure out whether infected birds are spreading the disease to other populations, Cookson said.
“Our approach is to really learn from overseas experiences and look at practical actions that can be put in place to reduce impacts as much as possible,” he said on Monday.
Inghams’ shares fell as much as 14% on Monday, according to Bloomberg.
The share price has been falling for four months and is down more than 23% since the beginning of the year, according to the news agency. Australian Financial Review On June 1, it reported that the $777 million company was in “turnaround mode” following a contract restructuring with Woolworths.
Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt, Cookson and threatened species commissioner Dr. He said Fiona Fraser would brief state and federal environment ministers about the virus on Monday.
“We work very hard with governments, industry, environmental groups. [and] “Over the last few years, scientists have been trying to make sure we are as prepared as we can be,” he said.
“As a government, we’ve invested $113 million in preparedness, including $11 million in the most recent budget. So I believe we’ve put systems in place and are working collaboratively with states, territories and others to make sure we can manage this outbreak if it becomes more serious.”
– via Australian Associated Press
