The case in Victoria entails an H5N1 virus, however the pressure will not be the identical as these chargeable for outbreaks in the USA, Looker mentioned.
A farm employee in Texas examined constructive for the virus earlier this yr because it unfold by the US cattle herd.
Australia is the one continent the place animals have to this point stayed freed from the H5N1 avian influenza virus, however authorities on Wednesday mentioned a distinct pressure of extremely pathogenic chicken flu had been detected at an egg farm close to Melbourne.
First laboratory exams confirmed that virus was an as but unidentified H7 pressure that in all probability got here from the wild chicken inhabitants and had been seen in Australia earlier than, mentioned Graeme Cooke, Victoria’s chief veterinary officer.
Curbs had been imposed on motion across the farm and the birds can be destroyed, he added.
“This space does have a excessive density of poultry companies, each egg laying and poultry meat,” Cooke advised Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC) radio.
“At this stage we will not say whether or not there will be any onward unfold to different properties. We at the moment are taking measures essential to stamp it out to take away any onward unfold.”
