Avian influenza, better known as bird flu, has been detected at a poultry farm at Meredith, near Geelong, in Victoria. That’s right, before COVID terrorised the world, bird flu was tipped to be the next global pandemic. Should we be worried?
Not just yet, experts say. And that’s because the strain of bird flu found at the farm is the less contagious H7N7 strain and not the infamous H5N1 strain that gripped the world in the late 1990s.
Still, the farm is currently under lockdown and Agriculture Victoria says the detection came a result of an investigation into poultry deaths at the farm.
Graeme Cooke, Victoria’s chief veterinary officer, told the ABC bird flu is present in wild birds in Australia, and the public should be reassured authorities are taking all necessary steps to contain the virus.
“We are putting in place all the requirements to prevent it spreading any further and removing the chance of any onwards spread,” he said.
“Poultry farmers, backyard flock and bird owners are urged to report any cases of unexplained bird deaths to the 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888, or to your local vet.”
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