A poultry farm in northern Victoria has been placed under quarantine after a new strain of avian influenza was discovered.
The farm, located near Euroa in the Strathbogie Shire, has 76,000 chickens, all of which will be destroyed to stop the virus from spreading.
The flu strain found at the farm is H7N8, a highly pathogenic type, which is different from the strains that affected other parts of Australia in 2024.
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Agriculture Victoria has established a five-kilometer quarantine zone around the farm and is working to control the outbreak.
Staff are on-site helping the farm and investigating the situation.
Acting Chief Veterinarian Cameron Bell said Avian influenza is commonly spread by wild birds.
“Unfortunately, despite the business having excellent biosecurity controls in place, poultry have been infected.”
“The business has acted quickly to identify the infection within the flock and are working closely with Agriculture Victoria officers to contain the outbreak.”
While avian influenza is a concern for poultry producers, the current risk to human health remains low.
The public is reassured that supermarket eggs and poultry products are safe for consumption.
Authorities are reminding bird owners to follow biosecurity practices, such as keeping sheds and equipment clean and reporting any unexplained bird deaths.
For help, the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline is available at 1800 675 888.
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