The Australian Government continues to enact its emergency animal disease response plans following the Avian Influenza detection in the Hawkesbury Local Government Area.
The NSW Government has also enacted its emergency biosecurity incident plan to address the detection of avian influenza in the Hawkesbury district on the poultry egg farms that have been identified with the High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI).
As confirmed by the CSIRO national testing labs, the HPAI detected is the H7N8 type and is not the same strain as the current Victorian outbreak. It is understood at this point to be a separate spill-over event, potentially from wild birds, Hawkesbury City Council said in a statement today.
Affected local farms are under quarantine with the NSW Department of Primary Industries actively providing support and the CSIRO Australian Centre of Disease Preparedness conducting testing.
“We feel sorry for the affected farmers, and for what their families and staff are going through,” said Hawkesbury Mayor, Sarah McMahon.
“We thank our local poultry farmers and bird owners for following best biosecurity practices and reporting any signs of the signs of avian influenza and suspicious bird deaths immediately to the national Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.”
