The bird flu outbreak has spread to an eighth farm in Victoria after the contagious disease was detected on another property.
Tests on Tuesday confirmed traces of the highly contagious H7N3 strain of bird flu at an egg farm in Meredith, about 40 kilometers northwest of Geelong.
The property had already been quarantined after more than half a dozen farms in the Golden Plains region in the state’s west were infected with the virus.
Agriculture Victoria said officials are working with affected properties to contain the spread of the disease.
“An extensive surveillance program has been launched in restricted and control areas to detect the presence of these viruses,” reads a statement.
‘All properties have been quarantined and all poultry will be safely and humanely removed. Sites will be cleaned and rid of infection.’
Avian influenza is a highly contagious viral infection that can cause severe symptoms and sudden death in domestic poultry, wiping out entire populations.
Health authorities have rushed to contain the virus after the first case was detected on a Meredith farm on May 22.
Bird flu has been detected on an eighth Victoria farm after the contagious disease was found on a property in the state’s west (file image)
Restricted zones and control orders are in place near Terang, Meredith and Lethbridge to stop the movement of eggs and livestock.
The property in Terang was infected by the H7N9 strain.
The outbreak has forced the culling of more than a million birds, including chickens and ducks, at the other seven farms.
The New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (DPI) confirmed that a case of bird flu was detected on a farm in the Hawkesbury region, northwest of Sydney, on Wednesday.
The strain of bird flu found is H7N8 and differs from the H7N3 and H7N9 strains spreading in Victoria and the H5N1 strain causing concern around the world.
Two properties in Sydney were also infected with the disease (pictured) last week as health authorities struggle to contain the spread of the virus.
The H7N8 strain was detected on another property just 1.5 kilometres away three days later.
Agriculture Victoria said eggs and duck meat products can still be safely purchased in supermarkets.
While it is possible for humans to contract avian influenza viruses when they are in direct contact with infected animals, Agriculture Victoria said the current risk to the public remains extremely low.
